Campaign to stop violence against women concludes

Hyderabad: Divya Disha NGO concluded the 16-days campaign on 'Elimination of Violence Against Women' on the International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, at St. Joseph's Degree and PG College, Gunfoundry. The campaign launched November 25 reached out to more 3,000 boys in colleges across the city. It impressed on them the need to prevent violence against women and girls.

A panel discussion was held on the subject at St. Joseph's College. The eminent panelists were D Venkatesh, Senior Civil Judge/ Secretary, City Civil Court Legal Service Authority, Hyderabad, Dr Chaitanya Deepak, Director of Asha Hospital, Isidore Philips, Director of Divya Disha, and Jhansi Rani, District Welfare Officer. The primary objective of the panel discussion was to address how men can play a major role in addressing violence against women. Hence, the panel had experts from different fields.

On December 10, the International Human Rights Day, Divya Disha released posters on ending violence against women and protecting the rights of women. Dr Chaintya focused on the factor of how peer pressure was a major cause of crime committed by men and boys. He advised the young boys to avoid such peer pressures in their daily lives.

Isidore Philips focused on the concepts of masculinity and how this was resulting in creation of discrimination between men and women. Venkatesh spoke about the judiciary systems and laws in our country and how they were formed to protect the rights of women.

He also threw light on the recent sexual assault case that took place in the outskirts of Hyderabad. Jhansi Rani spoke about social welfare services available for the benefit of women and girls. A few of the young boys, too, shared their ideas and notions and how it was necessary to start thinking about ending violence against women.