Mumbai, 05/08/2015: The seminar was organized by Indialogue Foundation and Wisdom Foundation at Hall of Harmony, Nehru Center, Worli, Mumbai on 5th August 2015. The seminar was addressed at the given time. Chairperson Dr. A.L Sharada (Director, Population First) began the seminar by introducing the founder of Wisdom foundation Dr. Zeenat Shaukat Ali and Yakup Polattas, Director of Indialogue Foundation, Mumbai.
The lecturers then started presenting their papers and presentations on women of which the details about the speakers and their presentations are given below:
Prof. Dr. Vibhuti Patel (Ph. D. Economics):
Dr. Vibhuti Patel has been active in the women’s movement in India since 1972. She is a trustee of Olakh (Vadodara), VACHA, ICOR, Anusandhan Trust and WRAG in Mumbai and President of WomenPowerConnect (Delhi) and Vice President of Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS). Title of Presentation: Women’s Movement against Sexual Violence in India. She presented about the sexual crimes happening in India against women. She explained in her presentation how women are treated in this country and how worst they are treated after such cruel crime of rape happens with her. Majority of judgements in rape cases are coloured by the preoccupation of the judges with ‘past sexual history’ of the victim and their notions of ‘virginity’, ‘purity’ and ‘chastity’ of women. Gender-sensitisation programmes for judges must be given top priority by the state. Even her own family disowns the woman if she is raped.
Dr. Ilina Sen:
Ilina Sen is Professor, Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies at TISS, Mumbai. She has been active in the women’s and other rights based movements for over three decades. Educated at Shillong, Kolkata and at the JawaharlalNehru University,New Delhi,her research, writing and action has focused on women’s politics and livelihood issues, as well as issues of sustainable development, agro-biodiversity and peace. Title of Presentation : “Women’s Experiences and Internal Displacement in Conflict areas
Ms. Vahida Nainar :
Vahida Nainar is an activist, researcher and consultant working independently. Among other things, she is the co-founder/Trustee of Women’s Research and Action Group based in Bombay, former Board member of Urgent Action Fund (Global and Africa) and the former Executive Director of Women’s Caucus for Gender Justice in the International Criminal Court, New York. Title of Presentation : An Overview on Women & Conflicts.
Dr Wandana Sonalkar:
Taught in the Economics Department of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, for over thirty years. From 2005 she was additionally Director of the Centre for Women’s Studies in that University. Associated with leftist, anti-caste and feminist movements. Recent research interests include women’s work, and gender and caste. Also engaged in producing and using materials for bilingual teaching in the social sciences. Title of Presentation: “Caste-Based Violence against Women: Its Deeper Social Implications”
Dr Nandita Shah
Dr. Nandita Shah has completed her Phd from University of Amsterdam in Social Science and her post graduate academic background is in Women’s Studies and in Social work. Amongst the many writings, her co-authored book Issues at Stake: Theory and Practice in the Contemporary Women’s Movement in India has been an important contribution in both women’s studies and women’s movement. She has teaching experience for 8 years in College of Social Work, teaching Women’s Studies to post graduate students. And recently in 2014, she was guest professor at Universtity of Connecticut. Title of Presentation: Women in Decision-Making
Shri Harish Sadani
M.A. in Social Work in 1989, from the Tata Institute of Social SciencesHave over 25 Years’ Intensive Experience in the field of Social Development :Founder-member and Honorary Secretary of Men Against Violence & Abuse (MAVA) India’s first organization of sensitive and concerned men, directly working to stop and prevent gender-based violence and abuse of women since 1993Worked previously for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, NGOs : Child Rights & You (CRY), and Blind Men’s Association (BMA). Title of Presentation: “Engaging Boys and Men to uphold Women’s right to dignity and safety”.
Once the remarkable presentations were over which hit the mind and heart of the listeners, speakers were open for the question and answer round as many listeners who were students, teachers, religious scholars, journalist, social activist and many more were penning down their questions from the beginning of the seminar. The speakers were questioned back to back on various topics and issues concerning to women and what action can be implemented to stop such heinous crimes against women.
The speakers addressed the question with the same energy and passion as they addressed their presentations.
When the question and answer round came to an end, Indialogue and Wisdom foundation presented a small token of appreciation to the speakers for their precious time for the seminar. The seminar was concluded with the National Anthem at 8pm.
