मंगलवार, 18 अक्तूबर 2011

Video of violence against women and girls in public transport

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgiE54PT4Xw

The link is of a video in which a student of Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh and intern of SAHAYOG, explaining about violence against women and girls in public transport.

MASVAW Core Committee meeting

MASVAW core committee meeting held on 8th October 2011 at M.G.K.V.P. Varanasi. The agenda of the meeting was to review the last six month work and to plan for MASVAW 10 years journey celebration. 8 members were presented in the meeting and designed few plan of action for the same.  

मंगलवार, 7 जून 2011

INTER FACULTY DRAMA COMPETITION MANUSHI ON "TOWARDS A GENDER EQUAL SOCIETY"

The Inter Faculty Drama Competition Manushi on "Towards a Gender Equal Society" organized by the Centre for Women's Studies and Development, BHU, Vararnasi in collaboration with MASVAW (Men's Action for Stopping Violence Against Women). It was held on 28th February 2011 at Centre for Women's Studies and Development auditorium. The main objective of the program was to create an environment of discussion on gender and related issue in university campus. In total nine dramas were presented from different faculties and college. Many renowned activists like Subhash medhapurkar from Himanchal, Dr. sanjay from MGKVP Varanasi and the professor/lecturer of BHU were present to promote the participants and to distribute the prizes. Here is one small play which gives the reflection of program.


 go to the link for video link-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgcA1ioB2AI&feature=player_embedded

सोमवार, 6 जून 2011

Youth convention


 youth convention has been organized in Redigarapur village, district Pratapgarh, UP, India, for Linkages and networking with MASVAW youth groups working under UNTF project by all youth clubs and Tarun Chetna Pratapgarh on Friday 20th May 2011.
The main objective of this convention was to share the experiences of change among youth after UNTF Project training and linkage with MASVAW. This convention was supported by CHSJ New Delhi & MASVAW, Lucknow, U.P.
This convention was for conveying the message of youth activities for stopping violence against women for others. Experience has been shared by the youth that whatever changes they are practicing in day to day life activities. Some progressive stories, accidents and youth group interventions have been shared by the youth coming from different part of the district.
The training has been changed the thinking, attitude, outlook and perspective of youth regarding women and girls. After this training youth became motivated to accept change and now they are motivating others to do same. They are feeling changes in themselves, setting examples for other, forming groups, mobilizing village presidents and other people for ensuring women participation in socio-economic and political activities.

सोमवार, 11 अप्रैल 2011

Vishaka Guidelines against Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The Vishakha Judgement’

It has been a decade of the famous vishakha judgement.Bhanwari Devi a Saathin of a development program run by the state government of Rajasthan, fighting against child and multiple marriages in villages, tried to stop child marriage of Ramkaran Gujjar's infant daughter who was less than one year old. The marriage took place nevertheless, and Bhanwari earned the ire of the Gujjar family. Gujjar family got infuriated by her interference, and on September 1992 five men including Ramkaran Gujjar, gang raped Bhanwari. Unable to get justice, women groups had filled a petition in the supreme court of India, under the name of, 'Vishakha', asking the court to give certain directions regarding the sexual harassment that women face at the workplace. The result is the Supreme Court judgment, which came on the 13th august 1997, and gave the Vishakha guidelines.
This was the case, which bought sexual harassment at workplace into public glare. The petitioners wanted assistance in suitable methods for realization of the true concept of “gender equality”; and to prevent sexual harassment of working women in all workplaces through judicial process and to fill the vacuum in existing legislation. The Supreme Court held that, “each incidence of sexual harassment of women at workplace results in violation of the fundamental rights,” “gender equality” and the "right to life and liberty." It was a clear violation of the articles 1, 15 and 21of the constitution. Gender equality includes protection from sexual harassment and right to work with dignity, which is universally, recognized Human Right. From the viewpoint of the Supreme Court it took this case quite seriously as it understood the gravity of the situation. The Supreme Court took assistance from the then solicitor general of India to formulate certain guidelines and norms to help working women against sexual harassment. These guidelines were formulated since the then civil and penal laws in India did not adequately provide for specific protection of women from sexual harassment in workplace and that enactment of such legislation would take considerable time

Guidelines and norms laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Vishaka and Others Vs. State of Rajasthan and Others (JT 1997 (7) SC 384)
HAVING REGARD to the definition of ‘human rights’ in Section 2 (d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,
TAKING NOTE of the fact that the present civil and penal laws in India do not adequately provide for specific protection of women from sexual harassment in work places and that enactment of such legislation will take considerable time,
It is necessary and expedient for employers in work places as well as other responsible persons or institutions to observe certain guidelines to ensure the prevention of sexual harassment of women.
1. Duty of the Employer or other responsible persons in work places and other institutions: It shall be the duty of the employer or other responsible persons in work places or other institutions to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide the procedures for the resolution, settlement or prosecution of acts, of sexual harassment by taking all steps required.
2. Definition: For this purpose, sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as:
a) Physical contact and advances;
b) A demand or request for sexual favours;
c) Sexually coloured remarks;
d) Showing pornography;
e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature
Where any of these acts is committed in circumstances where-under the victim of such conduct has a reasonable apprehension that in relation to the victim’s employment or work whether she is drawing salary, or honorarium or voluntary, whether in government, public or private enterprise such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem. It is discriminatory for instance when the woman has reasonable grounds to believe that her objection would disadvantage her in connection with her employment or work including recruiting or promotion or when it creates a hostile work environment. Adverse consequences might be visited if the victim does not consent to the conduct in question or raises any objection thereto.
3. Preventive Steps: All employers or persons in charge of work place whether in public or private sector should take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Without prejudice to the generality of this obligation they should take the following steps:
(a) Express prohibition of sexual harassment as defined above at the work place should be notified, published and circulated in appropriate ways.
(b) The Rules/Regulations of Government and Public Sector bodies relating to conduct and discipline should include rules/regulations prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender
(c) As regards private employers, steps should be taken to include the aforesaid prohibitions in the standing orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.
(d) Appropriate work conditions should be provided in respect of work, leisure, health and hygiene to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women at work places and no employee woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her employment.
4. Criminal Proceedings: Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with law by making a complaint with the appropriate authority.
In particular, it should ensure that victims, or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. The victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.
5. Disciplinary Action: Where such conduct amounts to misconduct in employment as defined by the relevant service rules, appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated by the employer in accordance with those rules.
6. Complaint Mechanism: Whether or not such conduct constitutes an offence under law or a breach of the service rules, an appropriate complaint mechanism should be created in the employer’s organisation for redress of the complaint made by the victim. Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.
7. Complaints Committee: The complaint mechanism, referred to in (6) above, should be adequate to provide, where necessary, a Complaints Committee, a special counsellor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality.
The Complaints Committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further, to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such Complaints Committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.
The Complaints Committee must make an annual report to the Government department concerned of the complaints and action taken by them.
The employers and person in charge will also report on the compliance with the aforesaid guidelines including on the reports of the Complaints Committee to the Government department.
8. Worker’s Initiative: Employees should be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment at a workers’ meeting and in other appropriate forum and it should be affirmatively discussed in Employer-Employee Meetings.
9. Awareness: Awareness of the rights of female employees in this regard should be created in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines (and appropriate legislation when enacted on the subject) in a suitable manner.
10. Third Party Harassment: Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, the employer and person in charge will take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action.
11. The Central/State Governments are requested to consider adopting suitable measures including legislation to ensure that the guidelines laid down by this order are also observed by the employers in Private Sector.
12. These guidelines will not prejudice any rights available under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
***
Other legal provisions include filing a criminal case under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act and/or filing a civil suit.
The sections of the Indian Penal Code that can be applicable to sexual harassment (which makes it a criminal case):
1. Section 294
‘Whoever, to the annoyance of others, (a) does any obscene act in any public place, or (b) sings, recites and utters any obscene songs, ballads or words, in or near any public space, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term that may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.’ This provision is included in Chapter XVI entitled ‘Of Offences Affecting Public Health, Safety, Convenience and Morals’ and is cognisable, bailable and triable by any magistrate.
2. Section 354
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force on any woman, intending to outrage her modesty or knowing it likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
3. Section 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) This is included in Chapter 22 entitled ‘Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance’, and is cognisable, bailable and triable by any magistrate. It holds: ‘Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of a woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture is seen by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.’
Under the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (1987) if an individual harasses another with books, photographs, paintings, films, pamphlets, packages, etc. containing the “indecent representation of women”, they are liable for a minimum sentence of 2 years. Section 7 (Offenses by Companies) further holds companies where there has been “indecent representation of women” (such as the display of pornography) on the premises, guilty of offenses under this act, with a minimum sentence of 2 years.
Civil case: A civil suit can be filed for damages under tort laws. That is, the basis for filing the case would be mental anguish, physical harassment, loss of income and employment caused by the sexual harassment.

बुधवार, 16 मार्च 2011

MASVAW Secretariat Lucknow

Secretariat person  Mr.ShiShir 9369318788  and  Pravesh 9839294162

District forum Baliya

Contact Person Mr Dhananjay -9452958575

District forum Varanasi

Contact Person Dr Sanjay 9415301240

District forum Pratapgarh

Contact Person Mr. Ram Prakash-9453900590

District forum Meeting
Pratapgarh district forum of MASVAW, organized a meeting on Friday May 20, 2011 at Redigarpur village.
The agenda of meeting were following-
  • To create committee against sexual harassment on work place in partner organizations.
  • To ensure sustainability in youth for feeling changes and their interventions at grass root level.
  • To give and orientation to media personnel regarding sex and gender issues.
 All the points have been discussed elaborately among forum members.
District convener of MASVAW, Pratapgarh ensured that he will take initiative and help to form committee against sexual harassment (CASH) in every partner organizations in the district.
The members of forum being agreed that they will draft a plan for ensuring sustainability of youth in creating change at grass root level.
The secretariat convinced that the issue will take in future consideration and proper positive steps will be take for arranging orientation programme for media people.
The main demand of forum from MASVAW secretariat were following-           
  • To organize a orientation programme  for leading youth
  • To arrange a training programme for media people


District forum Mau

Contact Person Mr Satish singh - 9452135969

District forum Mahoba

Contact Person Mr Baladeen 9793370667

District forum Jhansi

Contact Person Mr Amit 9838173015

District forum Jaunpur

Contact Person Mr Ajeet 9454715626

District forum Jalaun

Contact Person-Mr Jag Pal- 9919338410

District forum Hamirpur

Contact Person Dr. S. K. Chakravarti 9935193469

District forum Ghazipur

Contact Person- Mr Brajesh-9452221348

District forum Gorakhpur

Contact person - Mr Manish- 9838693588 Mr Awadesh- 9889088856

District forum Devoriya

Contact person - Mr Anil Rai-9450167388

District forum Chitrakoot

Contact person - Mr. Sankar Dayal 9450223899

District forum Basti

Contact Person - Mr.Jai Praksh -9454272100

District forum Banda

Contact person- Mr. Santosh 9956999042

District forum Allahabad

Contact Person - Mr. Arvind -9369768010

District forum Azamgarh

Contact  Person - Rajdev -9451113651