A massive 5000
women, men and youth from all strata of society came together on 14
February to express their solidarity for the nation-wide “One
Billion Rising India Campaign” in Hyderabad. Representatives from 30
NGOs across the twin cities along with independent activists, women
representatives from the government, transgender community activists
came together to support the Campaign.
The
rally began in Hyderabad at 4.00 pm from Jalavihar and went on to People’s
Plaza. The rally saw a mass rising of children, members of the
transgender community, NGO workers, Students, Teachers, Activist and
people at large who raised their voices against various form of
violence against women. The rally culminated at People’s Plaza
where a range of activities were lined up.
The first performance was
by children of the Rainbow Home. Rainbow homes is a campaign launched
in Andhra Pradesh in the year 2008 to protect the rights of, and help
reclaim the childhood of, deprived girls in urban areas which was
extended for boys at a later stage. Through the Balyamitra Network,
they have reached out to 1570 children out of which 1096 are girls
and 474 are boys through 20 homes or Residential Special Training
Centres--RSTCs (10 for girls and 10 for boys) located in government
schools, with these children attending classes in 66 government
schools.They performed on the One Billion Rising Song – Break
the chain.
Vasanth Kannabiran,
renowned feminist writer and founder member of Asmita Resource Centre
for Women in her inaugural address welcomed all the attendees to the
campaign. She said that this global one billion rising against
violence against women would mark a new era and create an environment
where women can enjoy their fundamental rights for which freedom from
violence is the basis.
This
was followed by the performance by the Avagaahana Group on the
violation of rights of Transgender persons. Avagaahana Group was
established by the Transgenders and Hizras Community in November
2009. All the organization board members are Transgenders and Hizras.
It is working to prevent the HIV/AIDS, to supporting Community and
mobilize the Community.
The highlight of this event is serving the delicious and healthy refreshments by women from the Chanchalguda Prison. They join the activity and claim accolades and applause for their voluntary contribution towards the event.
According to spokesman from Asmita, the
daylong campaign, to raise awareness on the issue of violence against
women and children, brought together a plethora of women’s
organizations, elected representatives, legal luminaries, leading
social movements, actors, artists, NGOs, academic institutions and
individuals both men and women who expressed their support for the
campaign through song, dance, plays , rallies and the sharing of
experiences.
In Andhra Pradesh, Asmita
has mobilized representatives from 26 organisations covering 15
districts to ensure that violence against women does not remain urban
centric, as part of the OBR campaign in the district. 7000 Rural
women, men and students joined the movement on 10th
December to celebrate Human rights day and also 14th
February 2013 to celebrate the Andhra Pradesh One billion Rising
campaign. The
rural campaign saw women, men and
students participating in what they term as the AP Rural Rising
Campaign, spokesman added.
1 comment:
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Mahita Vision
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