Students from several colleges in Mangalore, both male and female, took active part in the march, holding aloft a giant inflatable pink slipper made by used rubber tyre tubes as a symbol of protest and to educate people about atrocities on women following the brutal gang-rape of 'Nirbhaya' in Delhi.
At the public meeting, Mumbai-based women's rights advocate Flavia Agnes said that although more than a month had passed after the horrific gang-rape of Nirbhaya, it was “better late than never” to hold the awareness meeting.
Lamenting the fact that Mangalore had become a discredited place where assaults on women had happened several times in the past and continued to happen even now, she asked, “Do we need a Nirbhaya to awaken?” Throwing light on the mindset of the society, she said, “In the whole political scenario, the pressure is on our daughters. When she is assaulted, there is pressure to get her married irrespective of her age. This is our approach to the problem. Our fathers, brothers, mothers and our mindsets have to change,” she said.
Welcoming the recommendations submitted by Justice J S Verma Committee on the case of Nirbhaya, she said that change must come from each individual as recommended by the committee. “If we stigmatise our daughters when they have the courage to speak after being subjected to sexual assault, how will they move on and lead lives as normal beings. Support to victims of atrocities and sexual assault is also required,” she said, stressing that rape was not the end of life.
Speaking on the occasion, president of Catholic Association of South Canara Dr Derek Lobo said that women in India were still unsafe even 66 years after attaining independence. “Women, who form half of our population, cannot move freely at night or sometimeseven during the day. We are part of a patriarchal society that accepts female subjugation and believe and demonstrate that women's role is always subservient to men. This was highlighted by the negative and insensitive statements made by leaders from political and religious spectrum. The government, police, medical examiners, forensic experts, lawyers and judges all need to do better to promote gender equality and sensitivity, but most importantly, we must work towards bringing a change in the attitude and mindsets of people,” he said, encouraging zero-tolerance towards atrocity or assault against women.
A street play was performed by the students of St Aloysius College, depicting instances of sexual assault on women and their helplessness. A couple of students spoke out their thoughts and sentiments on the Delhi gang-rape and other instances of sexual assault on women.
A candle-light vigil was held wherein the gathering pledged not to accept, allow or tolerate injustice and also promised to fight against atrocities committed on women. The gathering also pledged to bring a general change of attitude and help raise boys and girls as equals, imparting them the quality of respecting women.
The gathering demanded for urgent review and immediate modification of laws dealing with crime against women, and ensuring swift justice and punishment for those indulging in the same. It also called for apt measures to ensure safety of girls and women, and to refrain from projecting women in a bad light.
Members of an NGO 'Breakthrough' actively participated in the march and meeting, and were also instrumental in preparing the giant slipper along with two foreign youths Artur from Hungary and Tillie from France, who were also present on the occasion.
AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes and Vinay Kumar Sorake also participated in the public meeting.
The meeting ended on a positive note with the song 'Hum honge kaamiyab', representing rejuvenation and a ray of hope for women, in spite of the dangers they faced.
Activists such as Vidya Dinker, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail and several others were present at the meeting. Patsy Lobo compered the programme.
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