Nov. 26 Press Meeting

This morning a distinguished panel gathered for a press meeting at the Hotel Duke in Madurai to publicize EKTA and SANGAT, New Delhi’s November 28th event. With many members of the press in attendance, the panel presented the goals and details of the event. On November 28, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, EKTA and SANGAT will host the Hyderbad-based ASMIRA Resource Centre for Women ballet group’s feminist rendition of “Ahalya” and launch the One Billion Rising campaign. Several prominent speakers will be featured: Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice Chancellor of M.S. University and former Chairperson of TN State Commission for Women, Thiru V. Balakrishnan I.P.S., Superintendent of Police Madurai, and Dr. C. Ramasubramanian, State Nodal Officer, Mental Health Programme, Tamil Nadu.  The event will be held at the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce, Kamarajar Salai, Madurai, on Wednesday, November 28 from 5:30-9pm.  

The panel consisted of Ms. Pharadam, EKTA researcher, Ms. Caroline, Women’s Studies Department Head at Lady Doak College, Ms. Bimla, director of EKTA, Mr. Prabhakaran, Public Relations Officer of People’s Watch, Dr. Shantha, Madurai Kamaraj University Rtd. Professor of Journalism, and Ms. Padma, of Deepam and Tamil Nadu Science Forum. After describing the purpose, goals, and itinerary of Wednesday's event, members of the panel took questions from the press and engaged in a discussion of existing gender-based violence and possible courses of action.

The event on Wednesday is an important tool for EKTA and SANGAT to tie several global campaigns—the 16 Days Campaign, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE Campaign, and One Billion Rising—that aim to end violence against women in a cohesive and impactful way. While these campaigns provide a lot of room for discussion on how organizations, communities, and governments can work to prevent gender-based violence, the One Billion Rising campaign includes individuals in the struggle against such violence. Mothers, sisters, friends, workers, husbands, bosses: all can take responsibility and personally work to eliminate violence against women. It is preventable. It is intolerable. We can stand up against violence as individuals, and as a community. This is one of the most important take-away messages that I believe participant will take away from the Nov. 28th event. Our inspiring speakers and wonderful dance performance should spark a discussion on the reality of violence against women in India—what challenges do women face in their daily lives—as well as acting as a call-to-action, inspiring every attendee to work for change.