The Hindu : Celebrating two decades of feminist activism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 12, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Celebrating two decades of feminist activism

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 11. With a shift of emphasis within the women's movement from "violence against women'' to "women against violence'', "Jagori'', "Sangat'' and "V-Day'' are jointly organising a series of events to commemorate and celebrate two decades of feminist activism in South Asian countries. The events will be held from March 17 to 20.

The programme includes an international conference entitled "Confronting Violence: Recounting Resistance, Envisioning Justice'' from March 17 to 19. There will also be the staging of two celebrated plays, "Barri'' (The Acquittal) by Ajoka Productions, Pakistan, and "Vagina Monologues'' by Eve Ensler of V-Day, USA. In addition, women artistes will participate in an open-air music concert for "Justice, Harmony and Peace" on March 20.

Delegates from South Asia, US, Europe and Africa will participate in the international conference and address the issue of violence against women from different perspectives.

The impact of war on women, economic and commercial exploitation of women and the female body as the site of violence are some of the themes that will be discussed.

Violence against women has been a central focus of the feminist struggle in South Asia and the world. The women's movement has broken the silence surrounding hitherto private issues including domestic violence, sexual harassment and child sexual abuse.

Women's organisations have led campaigns, fought for legislative action and introduced mechanisms to ensure support and redressal for victims of violence.

Today, women face violence not only at home but escalating civil strife and communal divisions, terrorism and war subject them to an all-pervasive environment of violence.

For Jagori, Sangat and V-Day the event is yet another effort to broaden the women's movement and to strengthen collaboration between intersectional groups as has been the case in the recent Gujarat carnage. The most important objective for the women's movement is to bring peace to the region.

Sustainable livelihood, community and grassroot interventions and institution building are seen as other vital areas that need greater emphasis in the future.

At a press conference here today, Kalyani Menon-Sen, coordinator, Jagori, said "Violence should be placed in a historical perspective. Jagori's earliest work was around issues of violence against women (VAW). This issue has also been central to activism by the women's movements around the globe.

Today, violence is taking more alarming forms (from domestic violence to wars on borders) - new forms of violence demand new strategies".

According to Abha Bhaiya, chairperson, Jagori, "A shift has taken place within the women's movement where we have moved from conceptualising the issue as "violence against women" to placing it as "women against violence".

This shift underpins a new vision for the future. Also, taking into consideration the State's complicity in issues of VAW, we feel that more cooperation is needed across movements; this demands joint action and joint struggles".

In the words of Kamla Bhasin, founding member of Sangat and Jagori, "The series of events that we have planned over the next few days will bring together feminists of three generations from different parts of India, the South Asian region and the world.

These are women who have been instrumental in building bridges across borders. They are feminists who have been in the forefront of activism in their own countries and who are joining our celebrations in a spirit of solidarity and friendship".

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi