| ADDRESSING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN PUBLIC SPACES |
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| Most women, cutting across age, class and caste are subject to various degrees of harassment in public spaces. Freedom of mobility, speech and expression as enshrined in the Indian constitution is not affectively applicable to half the population. Women are unable to achieve their full capabilities due to social and cultural constraints which create violent barriers, thus impeding their effective economic and political participation. This stems out of the patriarchal understanding that public spaces belong to men. |
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| Activism, government response and development funding in the context of violence against women has concentrated on domestic violence, in the last decade. The 2005 Domestic Violence Act in India was a landmark legislation. It has provided a framework to look at all forms of violence which falls within the domestic space, although its implementation still remains a great challenge. The Vishakha guidelines of the Supreme Court provide a framework to address sexual harassment at the workplace. However, while addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the public space - between home and place of work, there is no existing framework within which to approach such violations. Prevention of Offences by Acid Act 2008, amendment to laws relating to rape, etc do not comprehensively deal with the issue. Law enforcement agencies are at present addressing it within two basic categories of rape and ¡®eve teasing¡¯. Anything short of rape falls in the category of ¡®eve teasing¡¯. |
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Violence against women however goes beyond sexual harassment. The woman¡¯s body in many instances is used as a battlefield to settle scores or bench marks for ¡®moral¡¯ codes. Rape of dalit women, atrocities committed by armed forces in conflict zones, instances of honour killing, moral policing, parading naked, witch hunting, acid throwing, are all alarming trends which need to be addressed.
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| Such a scenario has a direct impact on women and girls¡¯ mobility. Their access to education and skills, healthcare, markets, livelihoods and recreation is curtailed due to safety concerns. Thus a vicious cycle of low capability leading to gender discrimination is constantly perpetuated. Women and girls from poor households are most vulnerable and severely impacted. Migration and urban poverty further compound this issue. |
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| What is lacking is a real understanding of the gendered nature of the problem and the need to move from the protectionist, welfare approach of the state, to ensuring women¡¯s safety as fundamental right. |
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| The greatest challenge for all work on violence against women is to bring about an attitudinal change in the mindset of people, who are unable to perceive women beyond the stereotype image bestowed on them. Any attempts to question or defy societal and cultural ¡®norms¡¯ are met with violent retribution. To facilitate this change, a process of sensitization and awareness building is an urgent need. |
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