Fri Jul 18 16:07:53 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

A panel discussion in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, highlighted the lack of adequate infrastructure, specifically fast-track courts, to address violence against women effectively. Experts emphasized the disparity between the fast-tracking of POCSO Act cases and the slower pace of cases involving violence against women. Speakers called for better implementation of existing laws, inter-departmental cooperation, reformed recruitment policies, standard operating procedures, regular gender audits, and stronger accountability within institutions to combat gender-based violence.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Faces Justice Gap in Violence Against Women Cases, Experts Say**

**Thiruvananthapuram, July 18, 2025** – A critical discussion on addressing violence against women in Kerala revealed significant gaps in the justice system’s ability to provide timely redress. At a workshop hosted by the Centre for Public Policy and Research (CPPR) in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, legal experts and government officials lamented the lack of dedicated fast-track courts and systemic interventions to efficiently handle cases of violence against women.

Lawyer J. Sandhya, Secretary of Sakhi Women’s Resource Centre, pointed out the stark contrast with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which receive expedited processing thanks to Supreme Court directives. “We have good laws, but their effective implementation remains a question,” Sandhya stated.

Additional Director of the Women and Child Development department, Bindu Gopinath, stressed the need for collaboration between departments and reform in the state’s recruitment policy. She advocating for implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP) across institutions to expedite legal processes and urged stronger review and accountability mechanisms.

Gender audit facilitator Reshma Thomas emphasized the importance of institutionalizing participatory gender audits to identify and address systemic shortcomings. Experts urged institutions to regularly review their targets, fund utilization, and hold individuals accountable to improve institutional responses to gender violence. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that women in Kerala receive timely and effective justice in cases of violence.

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