Women seek new avenues of justice in India

Summary of story from The Hindu, August 4, 2011

Women wore black saris earlier this week when marching against sexual harassment, domestic violence and other forms of abuse in the Indian city of Vijayawada.

Some of them held candles while others displayed placards painted with slogans against the abuse of women.

Earlier in the day, members of Kalayika, a consortium of different women’s organisations, gathered to discuss the different forms of abuse against women and to find new avenues for justice.

The march marked the start of a two-day Kalayika-Court of Women, at Vijayawada on Wednesday.

The two-day workshop is aimed at creating a platform for victims of abuse to make their voices heard before a jury made up of eminent leaders from various walks of life.

“In the court of law, the petitioner’s plea is heard based on evidences. We want to move beyond the use of mere mind while considering these cases.

“We want to propound the concept of the use of mind, heart and the conscience while listening to a victim of domestic violence, a rape or of any form of abuse,” said Madhu Bhushan of Bangalore-based Vimochana.

On Thursday, the court listened to testimonies of women who have faced different forms of domestic violence that includes economic, sexual, psychological and physical abuse.

Besides experts drawn from different areas, a four-member jury comprising lawyers, representatives of the Court of Women and human rights activists will preside over the session.

The Court of Women was initiated by Coriene Kumar, founder member of Vimochana, Bangalore and Asian Women’s Human Rights Council at a global level.