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This story is from December 4, 2021

'Feminise to Humanise': Talks held on gender violence in South Asia

'Feminise to Humanise': Talks held on gender violence in South Asia
BATHINDA: Under its public online discussion for 16 days, hash-tagged #16DaysofActivism, kickstarted on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to continue till December 10, (International Human Rights Day), South Asia Peace Action Network (SAPAN) organised virtual talk on ‘Gender Violence in South Asia, Feminise to Humanise’. It was under its ongoing series ‘Imagine! Neighbours in Peace’.

Filmmaker Rahul Roy setting the tone stated what South Asia needs is a feminisation of politics and polity. This is necessary to counter the grand celebration of the triumph of masculinity in its most naked and vicious form.
He was among the diverse group of thinkers, activists, lawyers and scholars working on gender-based violence around the region. Octogenarian activist Lalita Ramdas coined the slogan for the public online discussion as the issues discussed ranged from domestic violence to attacks on transgender persons, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to gender violence in conflict situations, the weaknesses of the NGO-led movements as well as positive changes.
Participants shared experiences and insights around the multiplicity of challenges arising from the ongoing pandemic of gender-based violence that needs to be urgently and consistently addressed.
The event was dedicated to late Kamla Bhasin, pioneering South Asian feminist who devoted her life to empowering women across South Asia against misanthropy and sexual violence.
Journalist Mandira Nayar from Delhi summarised the challenges of sexual violence in South Asia and highlighted the disturbing fact that cases of rape arose dramatically during the pandemic-related lockdown in India.
From Colombo, journalist Nalaka Gunawarde shared the Sapan founding charter which articulates the vision of the network calling for a visa-free South Asia along the lines of the European Union along with a regional approach to common issues like environment and climate change, human rights, education, child labour and gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence is not a women’s issue – it is a legal, social and human-rights issue rooted in patriarchy, said Aekta Kapoor, editor e-She magazine.
“Who am I, and how I want to identify myself, that only belongs to me,” said Ho Chi Minh in Dhaka, urging the audience not to neglect the issues faced by transgender individuals in the fight against gender violence.
“I want the empowerment of trans-women and Dalit women,” she said, asserting the need to think in a broader spectrum.
Three out of four women face intimate partner violence, which affects the body and mind, stated Dalit-rights activist Manjula Pradeep, speaking as a survivor from Gujarat. Gender-based violence is a serious constraint to women’s agency as it both reflects and reinforces underlying gender inequalities, she said.
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted shelter homes and counselling centres for women facing domestic violence, while women in rural areas without access to online services are even more vulnerable.
Broadcast journalist Maria Memon in Islamabad, who has dealt with online threats and violence, said there have been some positive developments in Pakistan, such as the passage of an inheritance law, and recognition of transgenders in a new anti-rape bill. However, the problems remain as exemplified by insensitive statements on women’s rights and identity by leaders including the Prime Minister himself. The prevailing patriarchal mentality also led to both Houses of Parliament not passing a much-needed Domestic Violence Act.
Speaking about masculinities in South Asia, filmmaker Rahul Roy in New Delhi said that “a grand celebration of the triumph of masculinity, in its most naked and vicious form” is visible across South Asia today. “Each and every memory, institution, history or herstory was being threatened to remain silent.”
He emphasised the need to move away from organising principles of masculinity, which are based on hierarchy, domination, superiority, violence and hatred.
Researcher and rights activist Rita Manchanda in New Delhi addressed the issue of gender-based violence in conflict situations where there is a continuum between everyday gender violence and the dramatic violence seen in such situations. Beyond the existing conflicts from Afghanistan to Kashmir, it was important to recognise post-conflict situations of no war and peace all over South Asia. Everywhere in such tense situations, women were targeted as cultural purveyors and reproducers of the community.
Speaking from Dhaka, lawyer Sara Hossain highlighted the need to confront the neglect of the women ‘birangona’, which translates to brave women warriors, a title given by Sheikh Mujib after Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
Human rights advocate Radhika Coomaraswamy, Chairperson South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) and former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women,from Colombo said this is the first time in decades that we are without Kamla Bhasin. Had she been around, she would have been very visible during the ongoing 16 Days of Activism, mobilising women with poetry, posters, speeches, lectures, music, dance and theatre, all tools that she used so well.
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About the Author
Neel Kamal

Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology.

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