International Week for Elimination of Violence against Women

    International week for the Elimination of Violence against Women
















Sakhya Women’s Guidance Cell like each year this year too is going to observe International week for the Elimination of Violence against Women from 25^th November 2013 to 10^th December 2013. The objective of celebration of this week is to raise public awareness of violence against women and to educate them about consequence of violence against women.

Campaigns will be organized from Virar to Naigaon at market places, schools, colleges, Women Development Cells through distribution of brochures, newsletters,display of banners, individual talks and tempo rally.

The campaign will draw attention to the need for continuing action to eliminate violence against women and also encourage the local people to say no to violence.

                                              Celebrating sports day

On 19^th Oct 2013 Sakhya in collaboration with UPS global volunteers organized sports at Shivshankar pada for the community women, total 55 women from Shivshankar pada, Kalam & Bandar pada Wagoli participated in the event. Sakhya staff and students divided women in five groups [Red, Yellow, green, orange and violet] eleven women in each group.  

Program started with welcome of the participants, UPS Staff and SNDT students by Mrs. Shalini. The objective of program was explained to the participants.

 “Chiri miri- Chiri miri” an energizing song conducted by Ms. Rushila brought enthusiasm among women to participate in the sports event.

Following games were conducted with women:

·         Balloon relay

·         Passing the water

·         Putting chilly in the bottle

·         Beauty contest with news papers, bindis and straws.

·         Bombing the city

Last game ‘Queen of Sheeba’ was conducted by UPS staff. 

At the end of the programme prizes and snacks were distributed to women trough UPS staff. All of them received prizes.

Women were very happy. They enjoyed the sports event. All of them participated in all the games.  In spite of their busy schedule they made time to come together.  While playing group games one could see the bonding that was taking place among the group. Each participant wanted to play and win for their group; they were cheering up, supporting & encouraging each other. 

 Sakhya part of Sexual harassment committee at workplace

                     

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013  has made it mandatory for the professional set up to establish complaint and response mechanism  to deal with sexual harassment cases  .It also recommends that committee should involve a third party,either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment, in order to prevent possibility of any undue pressure or influence from the committee senior levels.

Sakhya’s work on development and empowerment of women are receiving attention from different sectors which have initiated set up for complaint and response mechanism of sexual harassment at workplace. Sakhya was offered the membership in sexual harassment committee at Ratnakar Bank ltd., UPS Foundation,Mumbai and Gananmata Adivasi Madhyamik Ashram Vidayalay,Zar Talasarai.Ms. Hilda Fernandes, Director of Sakha has been appointed as a member of sexual harassment committee of Ratnakar Bank ltd., Mumbai and UPS Foundation, Mumbai.  Ms. Sunlia Bhise, the Social Worker of Sakhya has been appointed as a member of sexual harassment committee of Gananmata Adivasi Madhyamik Ashram Vidayalay,Zar Talasarai. They represent Sakhya in  the meeting of Committee on regular basis .

District Level Workshop on “Adolescents and sexuality

                                   

Sakhya organized district level workshop in collaboration with five boarding institutes from Raighad district on 28^th Sep 2013 in which 88 people participated. Mrs. Sunila Bhise and Ms. Rushila Rebello from Sakhya conducted the workshop.

                                                                                         

 The main objective of workshop was to make the participants aware of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual & social, changes that takes place during adolescents and challenges and issues related to sexuality.
All the participants  belonged to adivasi “Katkari” tribe. They had come from near and far villages of Raighad such as Mangaon, Roha and Mahad. Majority participants were boarders from Mangaon, Mahad and from Roha. The workshop began with a prayer song which was followed by the lighting of lamp and introduction of the resource persons. There after Ms. Rushila Rebello conducted few warm up exercises and introduction game to put the participants in right mood for the workshop.  

Content of the workshop:

• Relationship, types of relationship, need of maintaining relationship, Tips on how to maintain good relationship.
• Friendship, types of friendship, qualities of a good friend.
• Trust, how to built trust.
• Documentary film on  Badhate Badhate Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
• Family life education – Imputes on Physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and mental changes during adolescent stage and challenges encountered by adolescents.
•  Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Dealing with family life issues.
• Child marriage
• Recap
• Evaluation of the workshop

Outcome:

The participants showed very good interest in the workshop by participating in discussions, simulation games and group work etc.  Initially they were feeling very shy especially when they were watching documentary film however when the resource persons divided the girls and boys for sharing there they felt free to share their problems regarding sexual health.  Lots of doubts, stereotypes and bias got clarified through discussion. This workshop also helped them to minimize fears and anxieties pertaining to sexuality. They were able to learn the concept of relationship and trust fast through simulation games.

Awareness through campaign

Awareness raising is the first step in a campaign to change behavior.”In order to initiate the march towards gender equality we need to give visibility to the issue of violence against women which will facilitate a dialogue among individuals with different perspectives, to develop concrete lines of action to combat violence against women.  Hence Sakhya organized awareness campaigns in Thane district to bring the issue of violence against women in the forefront.

From July to September 2013 Sakhya organized campaigns at Schools,Ganpati Mandals , Bus Depo and Railway Stations.

Venues

 Holy Cross English School, Nirmal, Samarth Mitra Mandal(Thane),Aamche Mitra Mandal(Thane), Jabhi Naka(Thane),Nalasopara to Virar(train campaign), Vasai to Panvel shuttle , Dahanu Churchgate Local Train , Hanuman Mandir Nallasopara(west)Ganesh mandal , Jagruti Mitra Mandal,Nalasopara(W)                                                                                                                           Methodology

Leaflets and newsletters distribution, street play, one to one talk, introduction of Sakhya , answers of question.   

Sakhya reached to 2000 people through campaigns creating awareness among people about domestic violence, spread message to say no to domestic violence,                                                                                                  encouraged the people to take proper action against domestic violence                                                     and created an awareness of Sakhya and its functioning.

National Level Workshop on the issue of “Domestic Violence”

Violence against women is on increase. The rate of female infanticide, rape and honour killing and domestic violence is high especially in the northern states of India, these states include, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Sakhya and PSSS together decided to organize a workshop on domestic violence for the social activists of above mentioned states.

¨      To sensitize participants on the issue of domestic violence, its types, effects on victims, their children, family and society at large.

¨      To impart necessary skills and knowledge among the participants regarding domestic violence act 2005 and intervention strategies to deal with the issue.

¨      To empower the participants to take action in the case of domestic violence.  

With the above mentioned objectives Pragati Social Service Center in collaboration with Sakhya organized a workshop at Karnal (Haryana)on  domestic violence for the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarpradesh on 16^th Sep 2013 in which 40 people participated  .Ms. Rushila Rebello and Mrs. Sunila Bhise from Sakhya conducted the wokshop.

The workshop started with a short prayer  led by Fr. Sandeep Pereira from Pragati Social Service Center .  Thereafter an introduction game was conducted by Ms. Rushila Rebello through which the participants were asked to share their expectation of the workshop.

Following were the expectations of the participants from the workshop.

·         Role of youth to stop Domestic violence.

·         The role of NGO to stop DV.

·         Meaning of DV.

·         Types of DV.

·         How to do awareness on the issue of DV.

·         Legal aspects of DV.

·         How to help DV victim.

·         Need to know why women are victim of DV in most cases.

·         Need to conduct self defense course for girls.

Content of the workshops:

·         True or false related to gender.

·         Gender bias and common gender stereo types.

·         Violence against Women ----VCD

·         Situation of violence against women in India.

·         Statistics of violence against Women.

·         Forms, and causes of violence against women.

·         Domestic Violence

·         Statistics of domestic violence

·         Types of domestic violence and personality of abuser and victim

·         Documentary film – Char Diwari

·         Effects of domestic violence on victim, children, family and society at large.

·         Impact of domestic violence on fundamental rights of women

·         Domestic violence act 2005.

·         Intervention strategies in dealing with the cases of domestic violence.

·         Action plan on how to identify and deal with the cases of domestic violence. 

Action plan made by the participants is as follows:

Groups were made according to their locality and were asked to develop action plan.

·         Develop good knowledge on the issue of D.V.

·         Listen and understand the problems of women.

·         Dissemination of information in self help group meeting.

·         Conduct workshops with local NGOs on the same issue.

·         Networking with police department.

·         Work on the issue of Dowry.

·         Rapport building with protection officer.

·         Learn to write a D.V. application.

·         In case of D.V. happening in their area they will inform the protection officer.

·         Be a part of W.V.C. In police stations.

·         Provide self defense class at school level.

·         Provide awareness on the issue of D.V. in society.

·         Sensitize health organizations on the issue of D.V.

·         Empowering Mahila mandals.

·         Organize Gender sensitization programme in various  areas.

·         Promote education of the girl child.

·         Stop early marriages.

·         Give importance to girl child in society.

·         Provide more employment to women.

Outcome: 

The participants appreciated the workshop conducted. It brought awareness among the participants they learnt different skills to deal with the cases of domestic violence. Sakhya staff received a very positive feedback of the workshop. Following is the feedback we received from the participants. 

·         It is a good awareness session; we learnt the skills to handle domestic violence issues.

·         It is very informative session.

·         We will be conscious of not we will not make difference between girl and boys.

·         I am aware of domestic violence, now I can address the issue in my village and try to help women.

·         I feel this is related to my own life.

·         First we will stop gender discrimination in our own family.