Second National Webinar Focuses on New Criminal Laws to Empower Women and Children

New Delhi: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), conducted the second National Webinar today. This event aimed to raise awareness and understanding of the recently enacted criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These transformative legal changes are particularly significant for the protection and empowerment of women and children. The first webinar in this series was held on June 21, 2024.

The webinar featured opening addresses by the Secretary of MoPR and the Joint Secretary of MoWCD & MoRD, who outlined the key provisions of the new laws. Experts from the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and MWCD provided detailed insights into how these laws positively impact women and children, focusing on aspects related to their protection, dignity, safety, and security.

The event saw participation from nearly 5 million stakeholders, including elected representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions, particularly women representatives, members of women’s self-help groups, and various stakeholders from MWCD, MoRD, and MoPR.

The new laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—represent a significant overhaul of India’s legal framework. They aim to ensure more robust protection for women and children, addressing issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, and child exploitation with greater efficacy and stringency.