10 December - State Level Final Programme

Approximately 600 persons from 41 districts representing 300 organizations assembled in Lucknow on the occasion of Human Rights Day to reiterate that
Freedom from Domestic Violence is a basic Human Right

Hundreds of participants, representing NGOs, government, volunteers and the public from 41 districts of U.P., assembled at the Ambedkar Mahasabha to share their experiences organizing the 16 days of campaign events from 25 November to 10 December, 2007.

The salient point that was common in each campaign partner NGO’s presentation was the glaring lack of awareness about the DV Act, not only amongst the common people but even amongst responsible officers, teachers, police department officials, health department workers and surprisingly, even amongst some members of the judiciary.

As the final action of the campaign, a demand letter was unanimously adopted that underlined the need for adequate budget to support proper publicity and implementation of the Act. The resolution also emphasized the need for provision of proper training and facilities for the Protection Officers.

The 16 says of action employed various mediums-dialogues, meetings, films, plays, wall writing, marches and posters-to raise awareness about the DV Act, and so too did the concluding event. Two cultural troupes – IPTA, Lucknow, Shri Ramanand Saraswati Pustakalaya ‘s Azamgarh, – presented two thought- provoking street plays. An informative exhibition displaying images of the campaign through photographs, posters, slogans and wall writing was also set up at the venue.

The grand finale of the programme was an equally picturesque one. Hundreds of balloons were floated in the open air by the participant delegates symbolizing the spread of awareness, while the beats of the Nagara rent the air. AB TO JAAGO!!!

KEY PRESENTATIONS

“Very soon every district in Uttar Pradesh will have full time Protection Officers and adequate financial resources for the effective implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005,” assured the Director, of the Department of Women and Child Development, Mr. Yagyavir Singh Chauhan, at a grand function to mark International Human Rights Day.

Speaking at the concluding event of the 16 day long Ab to Jaago Campaign, which raised awareness about the D. V. Act, Mr. Chauhan also remarked that when speaking of this law it is important to to clarify that it’s purpose is not to punish men, but to free households from domestic violence.

Mr. Chauhan also assured the hundreds of participants that his department has already sent recommendations to appoint full time District Protection Officers (DPOs) and has allocated adequate budgets in each of the state’s 70 districts for the effective implementation of the Act.

Special invitee of the function, Commissioner, Department of Social Welfare, Mr. R. K. Mittal remarked that “Social change is a sensitive issue, bringing a law is not enough. Such social change requires education, social reawakening and also taking stock of existing cultural norms and values. There is a need for a holistic change.”

Mr. Mittal was encouraged by the participation of men and youth in the campaign and hoped that more NGOs would join this agenda of change, which is not possible by the efforts of the government alone. “As awareness increases the law will become more effective,” he observed.

Speaking on behalf of the Department of Information, Ms. Madhu Tambe, Information Officer, described her department’s efforts to raise awareness regarding the Act by releasing information thorough press notes in the news papers and brief advertisements on the radio.

According to Ms. Madhu, in various districts of Uttar Pradesh her department has put up hoardings to publice the D.V. Act. However, when participants pointed out that the names of concerned DPOs and Protection Officers should be publicized on such hoardings, she shrugged responsibility and claimed that this was not her department’s job.

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Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act) 2005

The Domestic Violence Act of 2005 is a historic step for India. The passage of the Act marks the first time that Parliament recognized violence against women and girls as a widespread problem that takes place not only in married couple's homes but also in women's childhood homes. For complete information about the background, clauses and social implications of the DV Act, click the "DV Act 2005" link on the bottom of the pink menu "District Programmes and Campaign Notes."

For more resources on domestic violence issues, also see the yellow side-bar menus with links to news articles and other websites.

Lucknow

Campaign Contact: Ravi, 9415762609; Mamta, 9450642546; Shakeela, 9452016503
D.V. Act Protection Officer: Ms. Gulzar Ibrahim, Dy C.P.O.

27 Nov. to 7 Dec.

Games and Interactive Activities, Performances, Stickers and Posters!

Stall #C-217 @ Lucknow Mahotsav

UPDATES
9 December
21 lawyers attended a meeting at Arif Castles to discuss the legal issues surrounding proper implementation of the DV Act. The chief guests included the retired Judge of Family Court Tripathy, Ankita Shukla of Civil Court Junior Division and Jasveen, an activist. The discussion focused on the key roles of advocates and other legal experts in ensuring proper usage, not misusage, of the DV Act. Mr.Tripathy emphasized the progressive nature of the DV Act, as it defines Domestic Violence, "not only in the Marital Home but also within the Maiden Home of a woman." Other participantsdiscussed the limitations in the infrastructure intended to implement the act: often those individuals appointed to the roleof Protection Officer (PO) are already overburdened with work at their current post. There is a need for more POs in all districts of U.P. Ms. Shukla also cleared up the frequent myths and wrong notions surrounding the DV Act.

8 December
“A doctor’s office is one of the safest places where a woman once in a life time comes; hence it’s our duty to identify the problems that women face and give them the essential treatment they need” said Dr. Abhijit Das, Director of the Centre for Health and Social Justice, New Delhi and Clinical Assistant Professor of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, at a Doctors’ Dialogue that was held today in Lucknow as part of the Ab To Jaago Campaign. Dr. Manju Aggarwal, Director of the Amity Institute of Behavioural and Applied Sciences, Amity University Lucknow, also attended the programme as the Chief Guest and spoke about domestic violence as a key health problem. The dialogue was attended by doctors and medical students from different parts of Lucknow.

7 December
50 women attended a dialogue on the DV Act and received campaign materials in the Gosaingang area of Lucknow.

5 December At a Theater Festival organized in the AP Sen Degree College in Lucknow, girls from different Colleges performed plays on violence against women. One of the plays performed, called Gautan, shared the stories of 5 different families belonging to different socio-economic groups. Although the families were from different classes of society, they all faced a common problem - the women of all 5 families were suffering from domestic violence. IPTA also performed a play based on the novel ‘Panch Parmeshwar’ by Munshi Premchandra. The play dealt with the many atrocities committed against women. A final part of this event was an exhibition where material on domestic violence was put on display.

3 December
A seminar on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was given by Jashodhara Dasgupta and Arundhati Dhuru to more than 100 participants-both students & teachers-of the Department of Mass Comm., LU. It was followed by a question and answer session that allowed the participants to clear up any myths that they had heard about the Act.

1 December
Ab To Jaago Campaign events took place in 3 locations across Lucknow. At the KKC Petrol Pump volunteers distributed material & information on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. At in the Mahila Degree College, a lecture on the DV Act 2005 was followed by a discussion among student participants. Finally, Guru Nanak Degree College held a film show in which two documentaries focused on survivors of Domestic Violence were shown: Bol & Nasreen O Nasreen. After the film show a small discussion took place where many students actively shared their views.

30 November
At the Lucknow Zoo, youth carried posters and Domestic Violence informational materials to reach the zoo-going crowd. In the Department of Women’s Studies, LU, a Poster Competition was held in which male and female students from various departments participated.

29 November
DV Act 2005 was discussed at a dialogue held today with the teaching staff of Lucknow Model School. Teachers were informed about the Act and allowed an opportunity to discuss. While initially there was some disagreement among the teachers about the merits of the DV Act, the teachers ended the dialogue in support of the Act and of the campaign.

28 November
Youth volunteers participated in a Road Show on the street outside of Sahara Ganj Mall in order to grab the attention of shoppers and promote the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005. The volunteers carried banners and posters, handed out pamphlets, and initiated conversations on the issue with passersby.

27 November
In Naubasta & Khadri, a dialogue on domestic violence was organized, and at the Makkari ma Mela in Daliganj, pamphlets were distributed and discussions on domestic violence were held.

25 November
The International Day of Action Against Violence Against Women was celebrated through cultural expressions in Lucknow as part of the Campaign Ab To Jaago. Approximately 250 people from all parts of Lucknow came together for a reading of feminist poetry and a performance of the powerful play AURAT at Rai Umanat Bali Hall. Powerful and moving poems about women, gender discrimination and violence were recited by reknowned poets of Lucknow including Dr. Ranu Unyal, Neelam Singh, Alka Pandey, Manoj Pandey, Rooprekha Verma and Ugra Nath Nagrik. The play AURAT directed by Veda Rakesh used movement, music, humor and drama in order to evoke the fear, stress, shame and embarrassment casued by sexual harrasment and violence against women. Through these artistic mediums, the event highlighted the important social and emotional implications of violence. The programme was anchored by Shakila Begum who gave an overview on the objectives and upcoming actions of the 16 day campaign, and retierated that although the DV Act has been passed by government,community support and proper implementation of the Act is crucial to protecting women's lives.

24 November
The talk show on FM Rainbow - All India Radio had Risha Sayeed, a feminist lawyer, highlight the aspects of the law for listeners, and several people phoned in with questions. She explained that it was not a criminal law and using it did not mean that male family members were being sent to prison by women of the household. She explained that it was meant to deter male family members in the natal as well as marital home from committing any act of emotional, physical, sexual or other forms of violence against any girls or women of the family, or even any minor male member. The magistrate’s order was a restraining order, but police action was a possibility if the order was not obeyed.Some women and men who phoned in asked questions regarding their own problems. A young woman narrated how she was in love with a man from a different caste and was facing a lot of family pressure to discontinue the relationship. Another young woman who had been married earlier this year was weeping as she narrated how her marital family was harassing her for dowry and how she felt they might actually kill her. A young man asked how he could get more help for his sister whose marriage resulted in so much violence that she needed treatment for severe mental trauma. Risha also got questions asking about local organizations that could provide help and she mentioned HUMSAFAR the Support Centre for Women in Lucknow. The talk show ended with a reference to the UP Campaign Ab To Jaago.

23 November
The Press Conference on 23 November at the UP Press Club was attended by reporters from almost all major newspapers, who were addressed by a panel of speakers. This included Dr. Roop Rekha Verma of Saajhi Duniya, who launched the Campaign Poster and spoke of why this Act came into being. She was followed by Niti Saxena of AALI who explained some little known aspects of the Act. Rashmi Sinha of Mahila Samakhya highlighted what her organization was doing to spread awareness of the Domestic Violence Act and Ravi Jeena informed the media of the large scale campaigning in 41 districts that would create a public momentum during the 16 Days of Activism until 10 December.

Programme

23 Nov. Press Conference 2:30-4:30 pm Press Club
24 Nov. Live Talk Programme 10:00-11:00 am FM Rainbow
24 Nov. Announcement on F.M Rainbow 8:30 am
25 Nov. Drama by IPTA 3:00-6:00 pm Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium
25 Nov. Announcement on F.M Rainbow 8:30 am
26 Nov. Community Meeting 10:00 am-5:00 pm Mahmudpur, Gosaiganj
27 Nov. Pamphlet Distribution at Mela 5:00-6:00 pm Daliganj Bridge
28 Nov. Road Show 3:00-5:00 pm Sahara Ganj
29 Nov. Dialogue with the Teaching Staff of Lucknow Model School
Lucknow Model School, Indranagar
30 Nov. College Programme Lucknow University
30 Nov. Road Show where approximately 200 youth will participate. 12:00-2:00 pm NBRI, Lko
30 Nov. Community Meeting 11:00 am- …. Banthara, Purahi khera, Lko
1 Dec. Film Show AP Sen Degree College, Lalkuwan, Lko
2 Dec. There will be a Discussion on Domestic Violence in the slums of Lucknow
3 Dec. Seminar in Lucknow University 11:00 am- …. Dept. of Mass Communication department L.U.
4 Dec. Community Meeting 10:00 am-5:00 pm Sitaram Purva, Lko
5 Dec. & 6 Dec. Theater Festival AP Sen Degree College, LkoTheater Festival APSen Degree College, Lko
7 Dec. Community Meeting 10:00 am-5:00 pm Virampur, Lko
8 Dec. Discourse with Doctors (To be finalized)
9 Dec. Discourse with Bar Association Arif Castle
10 Dec Rally & Cultural Programme.
There will be Cultural Programme by IPTA & the Cultural team of Azamgharh.
Girja Vyas, Chairerson of the NationalCommission for Women to attend.
10 Dec Announcement on F.M Rainbow 8:30 am

Jalaun

UPDATES
December 8
Gram Pradehan attended the Ab to Jaago community meeting as the Chief Guest.

7 December
A meeting was organized at an Inter College.

6 December
A meeting on the Prevention of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was held in a school.

5 December
A communtiy meeting and candlemarch were held.

4 December
Local NGO partners attended a community dialogue, and over 150 people attended meetings held in 3 colleges.

29 November
The children of Jalon were educated about the DV Act during a meeting organized in a school.

27 November
Wall painting was carried out by at least 100 participants.