16th October 2006 Press Release
Women resolved to wage a united struggle for gender justice at a meeting held on 14th October at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panjim to mark the 20th anniversary of Bailancho Saad. village. Over 500 women, predominantly from rural areas from all over Goa, articulated the need to take up issues which aggravated violence against women and resolved to launch a struggle against alcohol promotion. The meeting further resolved to encourage and assist women in setting up of women's organisation in every village. The Guest speaker, Prof Vibhuti Patel from SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, complimented Bailancho Saad for playing a leading role in championing the cause of women, remaining a non funded, non hierarchical, autonomous women's collective.. Prof Patel who is the Director of the Centre for Post graduate and research as well as the head of the Department of Economics, highlighted the challenges of globalisation. .She stated that globalisation has led to an increase in poverty, unemployment, alcoholism and addiction in men, which in turn has led to an increase in all kinds of violence against women. She pointed out that agricultural land, water and our natural resources are being taken away in the name of privatisation, thus depriving women of their traditional livelihood.The adverse female to male sex ratio all over the country including Goa is an indication of the deteriorating status of women she stated She called upon the women to carry forward the women's struggle, which has got women their rights and urged them not to fall prey to casteism and communal politics .She cautioned women not to allow religiosity to be taken over by religious fundamentalism which propagates hate politics and divides women. Adv Swati Kerkar, ex chairperson of Goa State Commission for Women spoke on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act , 2005. Ms Kerkar stated that this Act came into force after a long drawn campaign by women's organisation and appealed to the women to get familiar with the Act and avail of the protection provided by it .While explaining the salient features of the Act ,she pointed out that Protection officers appointed under this Act will enable women to get speedy recourse in case of violence. Ms Auda Viegas, president of Bailancho Ekvott, speaking on Collective Intervention for Gender Justice stated that there is a need for all women's organisation to be united to be more effective. She lauded the leading role played by Bailancho Saad in taking along different organisations and collectively fighting for women's rights . She stated that every women's organisation should be supported by other women's organisation whenever new initiatives are taken to further the cause of women. She pointed out that new challenges have emerged like trafficking in this present economic scenario and we need to counter it together. Earlier Ms Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad gave a run down of the organisation's achievements of the last 20 years. .Ms Martins stated that the organisation had enabled hundreds of women to get their rights and had launched various campaigns against domestic violence, rape, alcohol promotion, casinos, derogatory ads, lopsided development, communalism and casteism etc.The organisation has also campaigned for effective laws and was instrumental in getting the Dowry Prohibhition Act extended to Goa besides inputting in the Domestic violence Act, Goa Children's Act, Review of family laws etc. she stated .Ms Martins called for an united struggle to make further strides in gender justice. The celebration was interspersed with song, dance, skit, and poetry where a large number of women participated. A quiz was conducted on the various facilities available for women and prizes distributed fpr correct answers. Sabina Martins for Bailancho Saad ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using NWebmail, BSNL's Webmail Program _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org