Sorry if this is being posted again.. I am having problems with my email, i am not sure if mails are going or not. just sending again to be sure. Sory for cross posting
Dear Friends , India Centre for Human Rights and Law (ICHRL) is planning a half day workshop on the role of content creators, in films, television and the written media. The aim of the workshop is to sensitize media persons on portraying the disabled without resorting to cheap gimmicks that would offend the sensibilities of the disabled community. ICHRL is a comprehensive human rights centre that fights for access to justice for all vulnerable sections of society, including women, children, disabled, and other minorities and vulnerable communities. As a part of the Disability Rights Network, ICHRL runs a disability rights initiative which provides legal aid and counseling to the disabled. Approximately 10 percent of the world's population has some form of disability. Historically persons with disabilities have been subjected to physical and mental abuse by their able counterparts. Given the oppression suffered by the disabled, there is every reason to believe it is a matter of utmost importance to include them into the social mainstream. It is not the disability per se which renders persons with disabilities more vulnerable to abuse but the negative social perceptions and stigmatization, which reduces them to positions of powerlessness and dependence. Media organizations have an enormous influence in educating and empowering individuals. The extent, to which they can play a positive or a negative role, is evident from Bollywood itself. On the one hand there are insensitive films where the disabled have been portrayed in a derogatory fashion while on the other hand there are sensitive movies like Tare Zameen Par, Iqbal and Black. This shows how essential it is to communicate the right message to the public. This workshop is an acknowledgment that in-depth, sensitive and accurate portrayal of the issue can contribute substantially towards meeting this challenge. We are planning to invite representatives from disability organizations, print, television and films. Through this program we hope to initiate a process which will focus on improving the understanding of media professionals where disability related issues are concerned and improve their ability to communicate effectively with the general public. We have requested CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) to join us in this discussion and help us in getting a better of the disabled and move towards a better portrayal of the disabled. This will be an opportunity for participants who have worked on this issue both as a member of the media and as a Disability Rights activist to meet on a common platform and review current media trends vis a vis disability. You and your students are cordially invited to this meeting. Organizing Committee Prof Nandini Sardesai, Sociologist and member CBFC and Consumer Complaints Council ASCI; Deepika D'Souza Executive Director, ICHRL; Nilesh Singit, Co-ordinator Disability Rights Initiative, ICHRL Sujata Krishnamurthi, Associate Editor, Combat Law, ICHRL Contact Sujata Krishnamurthi 9820050453 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Nilesh Singit [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Raju Waghmare 9820946125 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reshma Jagtap at 2343 9651/2343 6692/2343 4754 -- Yours truly, Nilesh Singit http://www.nileshsingit.com/ ___________________________________________________________ Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/ To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
