PECUC kick starts weeklong campaign on ending violence against women

Bhubaneswar(03/12/2019): People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), a leading organization in the state in collaboration with The Hunger Project on Tuesday launched its “16 days of Activism” on Ending Violence against Women.

The 16 Days Activism is an International Campaign that started in 1991.

Since then, over 6000 organisations 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 violence against women.

Almost 35% of women in the world are victims of violence.

Nearly three out of every four trafficked women and girls are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Even in this modern day and age, violence against women is still on the rise.

They are not only being raped but kidnapped, sexually abused and also through domestic violence and dowry killings.

This weeklong campaign launched a mobile van campaign at Balianta and Bolagarh block of Khurda district to aware the people on the issues of VAW and more specifically domestic violence.

A district level workshop on violence against women was organized at Rotary Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

Dr.Minakhi Panda, Director PECUC, presided over the meeting.

Esteemed guest Arun Kumar Behera, Additional District Magistrate, Bhubaneswar said that the domestic violence issues can be solved by creating awareness among all sections of people.

Sulata Deo, Adviser Women & Child Development department, Snehanjali Mohanty, Member, State Commission for women & Anuradha Biswal, Olympian addressed the gathering and appreciated the campaign for raising awareness among people regarding how to get information and access the services to end violence against women.

Also they spoke on DV act and role of Women Commission & Protection Officer.

Among others, Swapna Bhoi, Vice Chairman, ALIBHA EWR Federation, Balianta block & Babita Sahoo, Sarpanch of Bolgarh block spoke on this occasion.

Anuradha Mohanty, Executive Director, PECUC, gave welcome address and shared the objective of the workshop and on the weeklong campaign and said,”PECUC is taking initiative at different levels to address the issues to protect women from violence and abuses and working towards a Violence Free Society”.

In this campaign, more than 100 women PRIs and SHG leaders participated and shared views that panchayat should be given adequate power for giving marriage certificate, birth certificate etc; formation of Sexual Harassment committee at panchayat level; single/divorced women, unmarried girls/ widow’s life should be protected; every panchayat should have separate toilets for women; two-child norm at Panchayati Raj system should be completely banned.

Upama Mohanty, Block Coordinator, PECUC gave vote of thanks.

The programme was facilitated by PECUC team Member, Jyotishankar Mohanty, Bamadeva Jena and Dr.Sumitra Mohanty. .