----------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help other CONSUMERS to be better informed. ----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goa Womens Forum observes the 100th International Women's Day --------------------------------------------------------------------- On the occasion of the 100th International Women's Day the Goa Women's Forum (GWF) a collective of women volunteers of Civic and Consumer Forums held an awareness action in Margao to highlight their various concerns & demands. Armed with colourful flags and placards the women volunteers distributed information slips.
Among the concerns highlighted during the action were the rise in cases of molestation, sexual harassment, rape and domestic violence and the inadequate protection provided to women by various Govt. agencies. GWF volunteers were of the opinion that both the districts must have full fledged Women’s Police Stations and a dedicated team of women police officers to conduct sessions on prevention of crimes against women. GWF will also pursue with the Directorate of Prosecution the need for increased convictions in cases related to crimes against women. The GWF has also expressed concern about increase in pornographic materials available in the form of blue films on CD & DVD formats as well books and magazines that continue to denigrate women and portray them as sex objects. The GWF has also taken note of the continued & increased projection of Goa as a destination for sex tourism wherein large numbers of domestic & foreign tourists are coming to Goa for sex holidays. The GWF is of the opinion that the Tourism Department must take responsibility of scrutinising all Goa related tourism advertisements, promotional materials in the print and digital format that are available worldwide and which portray women as sex objects and Goa as a sex tourism destination. The Tourism Department must take appropriate action with the help of concerned National & International agencies like CBI, INTERPOL and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). GWF has decided to demand the shutting down of the website SEXYGOA which has deliberately brought in foreign women to Goa and made them indulge in sexual acts and projected the same through photographs and video films with a view to promote Goa as a Sex Tourism destination. GWF is particularly distressed that the website is targeting teenagers so as to expand the market of commercial sex and draw young girls into the sex business. As a follow-up GWF will petition the Govt. of Goa during the forthcoming Goa legislative Assembly as well as the ongoing session of Parliament. GWF has also highlighted the need for access to toilets for women all over Goa as thousands of women are still forced to indulge in open defecation on the one hand and not use urinals due to their non availability and filthy conditions on the other. GWF is of the opinion that the State Govt. and local bodies like Panchayats & Municipal Councils must not distinguish between local & migrant women when reviewing availability of toilets facilities. GWF has also resolved to pursue the benefits & rights of women workers in the Industrial Estates, small and big industries through information dissemination by approaching the Labour Commissioner and officials of the Employees State Insurance Corporation & Employees Provident Fund Organisation, India. GWF has also resolved to make democracy work for women in the Village Panchayats and Municipal Councils by promoting greater participation in the decision making by women Panchayat members, women councilors and women voters in the Gram Sabhas. Meanwhile GWF has decided to take a series of delegations to various Government Departments as well as hold awareness meetings of women in the run up to the forthcoming elections of the Goa Legislative Assembly. --------------------------------------------------------- Press Release of the Goa Womens Forum (GWF) [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mail: [email protected] Visit: http://goacan.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------------------------
