International Women’s Day 2008
 
Background
 
In 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting Member States to proclaim a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace — International Women's Day — to be observed on any day of the year in accordance with historical and national traditions. Since then, the United Nations has observed March 8 as International Women's Day. The purpose of this day is to recognise the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.
 
For the women of the world, the symbolism of International Women's Day has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilise for meaningful change.
 
With a view to amplify the voices of gender justice and take forward the agenda of inclusion of women equally in all walks of life, PRIA, every year, celebrates Women’s Day at the district and state level, as well as at the Head Office, with partner organisations, and participates in the events organised by other organisations.
 
Rationale
 
To celebrate the success of women participation in various walks of life which, in turn, will motivate and encourage other women to take a step forward towards gender equality.
 
Objectives
 
• Address problems and concerns of women at the grassroots level.
• Encourage women to actively take part in Government schemes.
• Motivate women to stand up against all evils in society, especially those perpetrated against them.
• Facilitate the work of those women who have made a difference to their and other women’s lives.
Participants
 
Total number of participants were 5269 (PRIA-state and district offices, partners)
 
List of state/ partner events
 
State
Date
Place
Issues discussed
       
Haryana 7th March 2008
Mahendragarh
 Sharing of experiences in the field of Girl Child Education, RTI, NREGS implementation, basic services in urban areas, adverse sex ratio and promoting the participation of women in governance, particularly in LSGs.
  7th March 2008
Sonipat
 Honouring the initiatives of women in the fields of Self Help Groups (SHG), education, girl child
       
Chattisgarh 5th March 2008
Rajnandgaon
 Role of women in food security in the context of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
  7th March 2008
Janjgir
 Women empowerment through self reliance and government schemes to support women’s empowerment
       
Rajasthan 4th March 2008
Govindgarh
 Safety and security of women in public places
  8th March 2008
Karauli
 Early marriage, early pregnancy, deteriorating health of women, female foeticide, girls’ education and safety of girls and women
       
Bihar 8-9 March 2008 Patna (in collaboration with State Government) Problems of WERs in functioning, preparation of Charter of Demand, setting up of Panchayat Bhawans in village settings
       
Himachal Pradesh 5th March 2008
Dharamshala
 Domestic Violence
       
Jharkhand 11th March 2008
Ranchi
 Sexual harassment, domestic violence against women and other related laws
  8th March 2008
Jamtara
 Importance of Girl Child Education
       
UP SSK 8th March 2008
Sitapur
 NREGA, women citizen leaders, job cards, female foeticide
       
Event at HO
 
An event was organised at PRIA HO on March 10 to mark International Women’s Day. The gathering, consisting of all staff at HO, presented skits, shared thoughts, poems and other creative ideas on this occasion. The event was coordinated by PRIA’s CGAMP Team.
 
The event started with a Power Point presentation on functions/events/meetings etc followed by poems, skits and a briefing on the special provisions under Income Tax Act for Women.
 
Events by other organisations
 
Various organisations in Delhi organised events to mark the occasion. PRIA participated in some of the events
 
Event organised by Jagori and Sanjha Kadam(Bawana)
 
A mass rally led by representatives from Jagori, PRIA and Sanjha Manch, was held at Jhanda Chowk, JJ Colony, Bawana on March 8, 2008. Placards in the rally raised slogans on different aspects of women rights, such as equal rights at the workplace, women’s unity and fraternity, women’s right to a healthy environment, freedom from patriarchal norms, women’s right to education. The rally culminated at the Jhanda Chowk where CSO representatives addressed issues affecting women, including eve teasing, health and hygiene, provision of rations. Representatives from Jagori presented a case study on the working conditions of domestic helps in Rajasthan. Entertainment was provided in the form of songs on women’s rights and struggles, in which all those present joined. A skit and role play was staged by girl children affiliated to a women’s collective in which issues such as eve teasing, violence against women and women’s security concerns in the city of Delhi, were explored.
 
Event organised by Jagori (Madanpur Khadar)
 
In J. J. Colony, Madanpur Khadar, the thought-provoking film ‘Dor’ was shown on the eve of International Women’s Day, which was followed by a group discussion. Participants included 45 females, 7 males and 10 children.
 
The group discussion made it evident that a network of 300 women exists in Madanpur Khadar. These women meet regularly in groups, which have been formed on the basis of the houses in the neighbourhood. The women help each other in case of family disputes. Most women of the area suffer from domestic violence and the Mahila Network helps these women in solving disputes. The mode of conflict resolution involves sensitising family members, particularly the male members of the family, and stressing on the need to resolve misunderstandings amicably without the use of physical violence. The members of the network also help each other in solving day-to –day problems of water, electricity, sanitation etc.
 
The women who saw the film were sharp enough to pick up the issues depicting exploitation of women in the film. Women assuming leadership roles, women being the sole earner in the family, female foeticide, education of women, the stigma of being cast as the bearer of evil if something bad happens in the family, the sheer opportunism of the patriarchal system which ignores traditions and customs in denying women their rights – these were the issues discussed in detail by the women present.
 
Event organised by IAWRT(India International Center)
 
The IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival-2008 was celebrated at India International Centre for two days i.e March 7 and 8. The India International Centre-Asia Project, UNESCO and the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) jointly organised the festival. PRIA staff attended two sessions: one was a presentation on ‘Desire and Repetition: The Miniaturization of the New Hindi Song Music’, by Ms. Shikha Jhinghan. It mainly focused on the evolution of female singers in popular Hindi film music. The other was a movie entitled ‘Remembrance of Things Present’. An 80 minute- long film, it is based on a woman’s inquiries into her first marriage forced on her when she was a child.
 
Event organised by Delhi Commission of Women(India Gate)
 
The Delhi Commission of Women organised a two-day event in coordination with CBOs and NGOs who work for Self Help Groups of women. The event was celebrated on March 7-8 at India Gate. On this occasion, the chief minister of Delhi, Ms Sheela Dixit, launched Laadli schemes. The organisers invited women participants from various areas of Delhi to take part in the event. A highlight of the event were the stalls put up by the SHGs to sell handmade items at subsidised rates. Various cultural events on women’s empowerment were also held.
 
Event organised by Center for Social Research (Narela)
 
A rally on the theme “ Meri shakti Meri beti” to mobilise the local community on female foeticide was organised at Narela’s- JJ Slum. For the event, organisations from Delhi joined hands together- Center for Social Research, PRIA, Navjyoti Foundation and others-to put up an interesting show. Women and children from the slum area marched together calling out slogans and carrying pledge cards that spoke against female foeticide and highlighted the importance of the girl child for the family and the nation. After the rally, representatives from the various organisations held discussions and shared views. Participants were highly motivated to take a stand against female feoticide and they appreciated the motivational speeches and the rally.
 
Outcomes
 
•Participants of the programmes were able to familiarise themselves with women-related issues. Motivation levels among participants were high after discussions were held.
• These events provided an open forum to the participants to voice their concerns and to see for themselves the collective power of women.
• PRIA staff became sensitised on gender issues and about the problems faced by women. Staff shared their experiences with each other, which made their learnings more fruitful.