Kolkata/IBNS: The United States (U.S.) Consulate Kolkata on Wednesday hosted a virtual programme on '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence', an annual international initiative launched by the United Nations to draw attention to the problem of violence against women.
The campaign runs every year from Nov 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.
In the virtual programme, the U.S. Consulate Kolkata brought together leading voices from its 8th anti-Trafficking-in Persons (TIP) Youth Champions Conclave, which was held in March last year, from across India, as well as Nepal, and Bangladesh, to share how the conclave acted as a launch-pad for a series of anti-TIP campaigns in their communities.
Anti-TIP Youth Champions Conclave participants from different parts of east and northeast India, including two from North Bengal, and one each from Bihar, Jharkhand's Jamshedpur and Assam, and another participant from Bangladesh, shared their experiences working in their communities during the virtual programme on Wednesday.
They were Ratul Dev (Bangladesh), Shivam Jaiswal (North Bengal), Moumi Saha (North Bengal), Amit Kumar (Jamshedpur), Vineet Prakash (Bihar) and Ruplekha Bora (Assam).
US Consul General Patti Hoffman said that the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata had partnered with the government, law enforcement agencies, civil societies, academic institutions and private sectors to ensure that vulnerable voices in all parts of the society were heard.
One of the speakers at the programme was Dr. Vanessa Bouché, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University who has been a principal investigator on several federally-funded human trafficking projects from the Department of Justice and USAID and who co-founded Savhera, an essential oil social enterprise employing sex trafficking survivors in India and the U.S.
"Thousands of women are trapped in the brothels in the red light districts in Delhi with no alternative. We need more creative thinkers and changemakers. We with privilege of education have a responsibility to serve others and make someone else's lives little better," she said narrating how she started a business for these women after she found no option to connect those who are trapped in prostitution to find other avenues of work.
Rishi Kant, an activist and co-founder of Shakti Vahini from West Bengal who has been fighting against gender-based violence and reaching out to young minds on campuses, said it is heartening to see men now coming forward in the fight against violence on women and trafficking.
"Men have to speak up for women rights, their safety and protection. Women will not get dignity till their human rights are protected," he said, adding that igniting the men to come forward is important.
Monica Shie, Director, American Center, Kolkata, moderated the programme.
The programme ended with a powerful performative storytelling piece showcasing diverse women’s voices during the pandemic.
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Fighting Gender Violence
