National Convention Against Sexual Attacks
National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled
November 23, 2018
Press Release
In the background of the increasing cases of sexual violence against girls and women with disabilities, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) is holding a one day convention on November 25, 2018 at New Delhi.
This national convention will see the participation of delegates from various states and union territories of the country.
Smt. Kamla Bhasin will speak at the plenary session of the convention. This would be followed by a session where leading legal professionals would be explaining the provisions of various laws that govern sexual assaults, especially of disabled girls/women. A few survivors and their caregivers will also speak. Representatives from disability organisations that have been working on this issue would also be speaking. There would also be a special session in which women’s organisations like the AIDWA, NFIW, Saheli etc would be speaking. Sudha Sundararaman (AIDWA) & Annie Raja (NFIW) would be speaking at this session.
The concept note and the schedule of the convention is given below:
Muralidharan
General Secretary
National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled
36, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Lane, New Delhi
Tel. 9868768543
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National Convention
Against Sexual Violence on Girls/Women with Disabilities
November 25, 2018, New Delhi
Concept Note
“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”
Khalil Gibran
Yes! We need to talk more and insistently as increasingly our peace is being shattered.
For every Muzaffarpur, Bhopal, Deoria, Chennai and Dehradun reported in the media there are several others happening unreported, both within and outside institutions.
Considered “soft targets” girls & women with disabilities are much more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.
Consequent to the Justice Verma Committee recommendations amendments were made to criminal laws to address concerns of disabled women. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act of 2012 already had some provisions. In addition, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 also provides for punishment for any person who assaults or uses force to outrage the modesty of a woman with disability.
Implementation of these provisions, however has been wanting. Insensitiveness of the police and administration has also been a matter of concern. Procedures are not followed entirely, or when followed are faulty, leading to a failure in the justice delivery system.
Lack of monitoring mechanisms, one of the issues that we had flagged before the Justice Verma Committee for institutions where girls and women with disabilities are lodged could have acted as a deterrent.
Disaggregated data of violence of women with disabilities, unfortunately, is unavailable as the National Crimes Record Bureau does not maintain the same.
With exceptions, disability groups are ill-equipped in dealing with sexual abuse cases. Mainstream women’s organisations have also not intervened adequately.
In is against this backdrop, that this national Convention against Sexual Violence on Women & Girls with Disabilities is being organised.
While experts from the legal fraternity will talk on provisions of the law, survivors/caregivers will speak of their experiences and so will disability rights organisations. Women’s organisations will place their perspective.
This national convention should help us identify the gaps and strengthen our advocacy.
Finally, in the light of our experience, we would like to raise our voice for:
- Proper implementation of the POCSO & CLAA.
- Implementation of all gender specific Clauses of the RPD Act.
- Adequate budgetary support for training of police officers/judiciary on this issue.
- Maintenance of data on all such cases by National Crime Records Bureau.
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Schedule
8.30 a.m. to 9.30 am
– Registration
9.30 a.m. to 10.15 a.m.
- Plenary Session
Chief Guest: Kamla Bhasin
Other Sessions
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Time |
Session |
Speakers |
Chair |
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10.15 to 11.15 a.m. |
On Provisions in Criminal Laws, Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, POCSO, & RPD Act |
Advocate Kirti Singh Adv. Kumar Shailab/Advocate Bharti Ali Prof. Shilpi Bhattacharya |
Prof. Anita Ghai |
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11.15 to 11.30 – Tea Break |
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11.30 to 1.30 p.m |
Experience Sharing by Survivors/Guardians & Disability Rights Organisations |
Kusumlatha (National Federation of the Blind) Shalini Khanna (National Association of the Blind) Shalini Rana, (Human Rights Law Network) Anil Joshi, Caregiver National Association of Deaf Representative Sneha, National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People Kumari Vaishnavi, Bihar Viklang Adhikar Manch NPRD affiliates Survivors & Caregivers of Survivors |
G Syamala & Shampa Sengupta |
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1.30 to 2.00 p.m Lunch |
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2.00 to 3.00 p.m |
Perspective of Women’s Organisations |
Sudha Sundararaman (All India Democratic Women’s Association) Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian Women) Saheli Representative |
Indu Agnihotri |
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3.00 p.m. Concluding Session |
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