Greetings of Peace.
Quoting Emma Watson, “If you truly put your heart and soul into what you believe in, even if it makes you vulnerable, amazing things can will happen.”
No better words can define the National Consultation on Effective Communication and Intervention Strategies to Prevent and End Violence against Women in India organized by WISCOMP (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace)’s project—Partners in Wellbeing: Youth Countering Violence against Women in India—in solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign.
The Consultation brought together 40 participants to review the work undertaken across multiple platforms by various actors including policymakers, police officers, foreign delegates from embassy’s, funders, academics, NGOs, youth groups, men’s collectives, women activists, creative artists, media professionals, transgender activist and other stakeholders towards changing mindsets and attitudes on violence against women, post-Nirbhaya.
It mapped and assessed the impact of communication and intervention strategies to prevent/end violence against women, foregrounding how issues around masculinities and femininities have been addressed. The platform focused not only on initiating dialogues about best practices and lessons learned but also generating action-oriented recommendations for policymakers and practitioners in the government and civil society sectors specifically from several conflict zones and insecure regions.
The intensive panel discussions ranging across a wide range of key areas sparked hopes despite challenges, optimism despite obstacles, commitment despite contestations and promise of togetherness despite individual battles.
I would sincerely like to thank Mrs. Meenakshi Gopinath Director (WISCOMP), Dr. Soumita Basu, several panel members and activists for making URI and me a part of such a great endeavour and committing to the cause of peace by joining hands in our attempt to make this world a better place to live in.
For more updates and pictures, one can also look at the Facebook album.
May peace prevail on Earth.
