Press release

24 November 2006

Campaigners gear up for 16 Days of Activism in wake of new domestic violence act

Rallies of women bikers will be among the highlights of the annual ‘16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women’ which starts on Saturday. Groups of bikers will be cruising across the state of Maharashtra to spread the campaign message which holds special significance this year following the long awaited approval of the government bill on domestic violence, in October.

The global awareness campaign runs from November 25 to December 10, linking International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and Human Rights Day. With a law against domestic violence now in place, the focus of human rights campaigners in India has shifted to effective implementation:

“Violence against women is the most endemic, blatant, and deplorable violation of women’s human rights,” stresses Anne Jellema, ActionAid’s director of policy.

 “Our aim is to spread awareness about the new domestic violence Act to women and girls in slums, schools, police stations, colleges and resident welfare associations. And where and how they can seek help,” says Prakash Kumar of Bal Vikas Dhara, a Delhi based women and children’s rights organisation and partner of ActionAid.

In India , every three minutes a crime is committed against women according to the National Crimes Report Bureau (2000). Every 15 minutes one woman is molested and every 29 minutes a women is raped. Every 77 minutes one woman becomes a victim of Dowry death and every nine minutes a woman becomes a victim of cruelty by her husband.

To mark the 16 days of Activism in India , ActionAid and partner organisations working on women’s rights have organised a wide range of events, including marches, candlelight vigils, public hearings and film festivals in major cities across the country.

Hundreds are expected to attend these events in solidarity with women who are suffering abuse, and also hand over memorandums of demands to key government authorities.

“Women and girls face three-fold exploitation: in the family, in the work place and in society at large,” says Anchita Ghatak , leader of ActionAid’s work on women’s rights in India . “Poor education, lack of economic independence and limited opportunities and confidence to negotiate leaves women particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable.”

“Violence against women is also shown to be key factor fueling the global spread of HIV/AIDS,” she adds.

Campaign activities by state include:

1. Orissa: Silent rallies, public hearings and film festivals and cultural events highlighting the discrimination experienced by women living with HIV/AIDS, women with disability and Muslim women.

2. Assam , Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland: Focusing on domestic violence, trafficking and violence against women living with HIV/AIDS activities will include street theatre, film screenings, meetings with legislators and a ribbon campaign celebrating World AIDS Day.

3. West Bengal: Campaigners in Bengal will observe all the major days during the fortnight culminating in Human Rights Day celebration on December 10. Women’s rights combating all forms violence against women are the central theme with photo exhibitions, a girl child parliament and meetings with State Human Rights Commission and State Women’s Commission.
4. Bhopal: Bhopal and 27 other districts across Madhya Pradesh observe the 16 Days of Activism with a torch rally, ribbon campaign, mobile information stall, signature campaign and ‘wall and road writing’ against sexual exploitation, dowry and domestic violence, trafficking and adverse sex ratio.
5. Mumbai: Atrocities against dalit women in the region are a particular concern. College public hearings, fact finding visits, radio spots and ‘WeCan’ campaign are some of the key actions planned to mark the 16 days. Women bikers also gear up across Maharashtra spreading the message to stop violence against women and people living with HIV/AIDS.

6. Jaipur: A public hearing and lecture series on the Domestic Violence Act, film shows and a candlelight vigil will all take place in Jaipur during the 16 Days of Activism.

7. Gujarat: Communal violence in Gujrat is the theme during the fortnight of activism marked by signature campaign, film shows, mass convention and a submission of memorandum of demands to state authorities.
8. Hyderabad : Media workshops, public meetings, meetings with state legislators on female foeticide and infanticide, and HIV/AIDS bill (proposed) are among the actions to underline the concerns of women.

ENDS