A film on gender-related violence, Youth Forums Against Gender Based Violence, was screened here by Madam Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large on Global Women's Issues in the administration of United States President Barack Obama.
The film was developed and edited by Independent Commission for People's Rights and Development (ICPRD), a national-level NGO working on various aspects of development. It was part of ICPRD's Youth Forums Against Gender Based Violence (YFAGBV) project that engages male members from low-income communities to combat violence against women at household and community level.
Speaking about the film, Madam Verveer said: “Youth Forums Against Gender Based Violence has done exceptional work for the short time it has been carrying on its activities…It is my great hope that it will not only be shown all over this great country… but that it will be transported beyond the borders to have an impact on others who can learn a great deal from it.”
According to ICPRD Member-Secretary Dr. Nandini Azad, gender issues must become national agenda and not a women's-only issue. “The solutions to gender-based violence lie with men and women together. I request Madam Verveer to be our ambassador and take our message all over the world,” she said after the film screening at India Habitat Centre.
The YFAGBV has been working in rural Karnataka and Rajasthan for the past five years. The film showed how the Forum mobilised young men in the age group of 14-17 years and 18-24 years through cycle rallies, cricket matches, and street theatre. The efforts led these men to take action against eve-teasing, domestic violence, dowry, female foeticide and illegal liquor shops within their community. They also promoted female education.
Additional Solicitor General of India Indira Jaising also attended the launch. She noted that while domestic violence in the US is addressed through the criminal justice system, in India it is addressed under civil law because of social security issues. Madam Verveer agreed that though the nature of gender-based violence was different in the two countries, it was important to recognise that “violence against women is a problem of human rights violation”.
The ICPRD was established in 1996 as a pro-poor advocacy coalition of 900 small NGOs across 21 States in India. At present, it works in the fields of social and community mobilisation, youth awareness, capacity-building of the youth and women, gender-based violence and pro-poor policy and advocacy.
