Consultation Workshop on
“Making Chandigarh Girls and Women Friendly-A step towards Human Rights City”.
To commemorate International Women’s Day, on March 6, 2014 Yuvsatta-an NGO based in Chandigarh, India along with Department cum Centre for Women Studies & Development, Panjab University and State Cell of NSS (National Service Scheme), Chandigarh organized a Consultation Workshop on “Making Chandigarh Girls and Women Friendly-A step towards Human Rights City”. Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court inaugurated the same at Golden Jubilee Hall of Panjab University, Chandigarh. In which over 150 students, NSS volunteers, teachers from 26 Colleges of the city, NGO & RWA representatives also participated.
In his Inaugural address, Justice Surya Kant emphasized upon changing the present discriminatory mindset against the Women. He called for a need for renewed social engineering, bridging the rural urban divide and also making accountable parents for raising brats. Prof. Pam Rajput in her presidential address, gave a critique of social system and discrimination against women by sharing her lived experiences. She stressed upon the collective outreach campaign to eradicate the gender based violence.
While dwelling upon “Problems and Possible Solutions”, Prof. Manju Verma of Punjabi University, Patiala who also associated with PDHRE (People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning), US, stressed upon holistic strategies to counter gender violence. She called for a formation of a Steering committee comprising of all stake holders. In other deliberations, the prevalence, cause and remedial strategies were deliberated upon. Implementation of laws with right mind set and gender sensitization also was emphasized.
Taking part in the discussions Ms. Gurpreet Deo, IPS, Punjab Police suggested some strategies for ensuring Human Rights of Women to counter violence like spreading more awareness of rights among women, right kind of socialization at home, proper involvement of man in ensuring gender justice, more outreach programs targeted at boys, breaking of gender stereotypes, bringing more attitudinal changes, police-community interface to name a few. Gender sensitization of judiciary, police, municipal councilors, sarpanches, bureaucrats is the need of the hour added Prof. Manvinder Kaur, Chairperson, Department cum Centre for Women Studies & Development, Panjab University.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Member Parliament raised the issue of right gender sensitization at home itself. He called to lead by example, quoting Gandhi he said ‘Be the Change you wish to see in the World’. He called upon the young people to take this challenge of making Chandigarh a girls and women friendly city, for which they themselves have to first become role models. Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal also administered an oath to all participants to ensure Human Rights of Women and Girls in the city.
In the end, Mr. Bikram Singh Rana, State Liaison Officer of NSS and Mr. Pramod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta announced to jointly launch a ‘JAAGO CHANDIGARH (AWKE CHANDIGARH)’ campaign in the city to make people, especially young people of their Human rights & duties.
Asian Girl Campaign 