Skip to main content

Violence against women amidst pandemic: 600 rights groups seek gender segregated data

By A Representative

More than 600 women’s groups, LGBTQIA communities, human rights organisations, trade unions and farmers’ organisations have demanded that the Government of India should set up a committee, with 50% women as members, for gender segregated data on severity of impact of pandemic on different sections of women, adding, a reliable and accurate data are necessary “to record all forms of gender-based, caste and religion-based violence.”
Stating that this is also essential in order to “formulate mitigation strategy”, releasing a charter of demands on a large number of issues, ranging from democratic rights and food security to right to life and safety, education, work, political participation health, etc., in a statement, especially notes with concern “non-implementation of existing laws to stop violence against women”, which have “increased during the lockdown”.
Insisting that there should be “special financial allocations to be made for the implementation of laws to prevent crime and violence against women based on of caste, class, religion and other social identities”, the statement insists on “a gender perspective in the provision of budgets and of economic and social security relief measures and in relief packages to protect vulnerable women.” 
The statement and the list of demands were released at a press meet addressed by civil rights leaders Anjali Bhardwaj, Annie Raja, Kavita Krishnan, Leena Dabir, Shabnam Hashmi, among others.
Regretting that the Nirbhaya funds have lapsed twice already, the statement, which follows India-wide protests on September 5 under the banner #IfWeDoNotRise, marking the third martyrdom anniversary of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, demands allocation of “funds for infrastructure as well as for financial support to the women from the marginalised communities.”
The statement demands that “any discrimination, violence or stigmatisation of LGBTQIA persons must be penalised”, underlining, the government should “take back the rules of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2020, before they are passed by Parliament till the Constitutional challenge to the Act itself is resolved.”
The statement says, “Regressive laws like the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act have adversely impacted the rights of transgender persons. There are very few provisions in place to protect the safety and rights of the entire LGBTQIA community.”
Emphasising on the need to make the prevention and redress of violence against women (VAW) a key concern of the socio-economic and political agenda of the national plan, the statement wants implementation of “gender training to be made mandatory for the police personnel, the judiciary, the protection officers and other allied functionaries.” 
The statement says, “The growth of fascist and neo-liberal forces in the country, and the resulting rise in violence in society, has deeply impacted on the lives of women and members of the LGBTQIA communities”, even as there has been a sharp rise in “attacks on religious minorities”, creating “an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.”
The statement claims, the September 5 protest witnessed 2,670 physical protests with a participation of over 50,000 people across 28 states covering 245 districts, adding, approximately 2,000 ordinary people made videos on issues that perturbed them the most and they were uploaded on various social platforms. 513 prominent people did Facebook lives, thousands of new visuals, paintings, posters were created and shared.
Eminent personalities who participated in the campaign included Aparna Sen, Arundhati Roy, Mallika Sarabhai, Maya Rao, Harsh Mander, Nandini Sunder, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Purushottam Agarwal, Admiral Ramdas, Anjali Bhardwaj, Annie Raja, Kavita Krishnan, Gauhar Raza, Dr Syeda Hameed, Ram Puniyani, Jayati Ghosh, Teesta Setalvad, S Irfan Habib, among others.

Comments

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.