PECUC-Bhubaneswar kicks off ‘Violence Against Women Campaign’
Bhubaneswar, Dec 4: People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC) a leading organization in the state is organizing this “16 days of Activism” from 4th December to 10th December on violence against women. The violence against women campaign aims to raise awareness about domestic violence at community level.
This week-long event is launching a mobile van campaign from the Red Cross Bhawan, Bhubaneswar to 17 panchayat’s & 31 villages of Bhubaneswar and Balianta Block of Khordha district to make aware the people on the issues of VAW and more specifically domestic violence.
An Workshop on Violence against Women was organized by PECUC in collaboration with The Hunger Project on 4th Dec, where the Chief Guest, Mr Sashi Bhusan Behera, Honble MLA flagged up the mobile campaign van and addressed the gatherings that the domestic violence issues can be solved by creating awareness among all sections of people.
Member Women Commission Mrs Snigdha Panigrahi, Ms Snehanjali Mohanty, Mrs Rasmiprava Mishra ,[DV Protection officer] Khordha Dist,Prof Adaramani Boral ,Chairman PECUC addressed the gatherings and appreciated that the campaign van is going to villages where people can get information and access the services to end violence against women. Also they spoke on DV act ,Women commission role & protection officer role .
Mr.Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Secretary PECUC chaired the session, and said,” PECUC is taking initiative at different level to address the issues to protect women from violence and abuses. Ms.Anuradha Mohanty, Executive Director gave welcome address and share the objective of the workshop and weeklong campaign.
In this launching programme more than 100 women PRI’s, SHG leaders from Balianta & Bhubaneswar Block participated and by putting messages on the signature banner on the issues. Also handed over their demand notes to guests present on the occasion. The demands are i.e. panchayat should be given adequate power giving birth certificate, marriage certificate, caste certificate, death certificate etc; formation of prevention of sexual harassment committee at panchayat level ; single/divorced women, unmarried girls/ widow’s life should be protected; public hearing on Food Security Scheme should be with Panchayat; every panchayat should have separate toilets for women; two-child norm at Panchayati Raj system should be completely banned; panchayat office should be open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm so that people can access services easily.
The programme was facilitated by PECUC team members Mr. Jyoti Sankar Mohanty, Panu Behera, Upama Mohanty, Pradipta Beura, Pragyan Swain.
One-third of women are victim of violence in the world. In India women are being raped at every 29 minutes, sexual victim at every 59 minutes, every 22 minutes we can see one dowry victim and violence against a women at every 3 minutes. About 42% women face physical or sexual violence in the state of Odisha.
In modern society day by day there is a rise of violence against women. In 2014, 14,606 cases of crimes against women were registered in Odisha (NCRB). They are not only being tortured through rape, dowry, sexually but also through domestic violence and even murder.
The 16 Days Campaign is an International Campaign that started in 1991. Since then, over 5,179 groups in 187 countries have taken part in this campaign. This Campaign provides each and every one of us-with the opportunity to break the silence around domestic violence.