Mangalore, Mar 9: National Women's Front has taken exception to commodification of women and portrayal of women in provocative ways in advertisements.
Front Chairperson Shahida Tasneem delivering an inaugural address at a programme 'secure women, secure nation' organized by the Front to mark International Women's Day here on Friday, she said that portrayal of women in such manner encourages men to indulge into immoral activities.
“Intelligence, character and morality are signs of modernity in a woman, while showiness and nudity are not. The government should issue a ban on pornographic material explicitly found online, indecent print and television advertisements and provocative posters of films which show women in poor light,” she said and added that a woman experiences breach of liberty throughout her life right from birth. "According to Crime Record Bureau, one woman dies every 77 minutes due to dowry-related harassment, one woman is raped every 54 minutes and one woman is sexually assaulted every 51 minutes in India. If these are cases that are reported and recorded, how many more go unreported,” she proclaimed.
Speaking on the occasion, president of Council of Catholic Women, Mangalore, Lydia D'Cunha lamented the absence of an emergency cell in the city of Mangalore to help women in distress, underlining the need for such a cell in every taluk in the state.
She said that women faced several obstacles while openly interacting with others in the society. “They are looked down upon and often discouraged from interacting, having relations with others and venturing alone outside their homes. It is because of the society and ineffectiveness of the administration that this trend is seen in our region. Right from home, children should be taught to respect women as equal human beings,” she said.
Resource person Mumtaz Pakkaladka said that lack of morality in human beings was the cause for rise in atrocities on women. “We as women, have to stand up and speak out against injustice meted out to us. We should bravely oppose the atrocities and fight till we get justice. Young girls should be taught to be more assertive and self-confident. We ought to raise our voices against exploitation and atrocities so that others are prevented from being subjected to the same,” she said.
On the occasion, state-level Karate champions Suraiyya and Rubaina, Mangalore University rank holder Nihana Anjum and social worker Tabassum were felicitated by NWF – Karnataka. Prizes were distributed to winners of essay competition on 'Protection of women and ways to ensure it'
Principal of Al-Badriya Composite P U College (Krishnapura) Zohra Abbas, columnist Jyothi Guruprasad and NWF state president Shahida Aslam were present on the occasion.
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