Safety for Women and Girls

 On 6th April, 2019, the Centre for Women’s studies, organised a meeting on theme Safety for Women and Girls.  This event was organised  in collaboration with Dean Student Welfare(DSW) and Internal Complaint Committee (University of Hyderabad) and  the  All India’s Women’s Conference (AIWC), Secunderabad and Hyderabad Branch. Dr. Padmaja welcomed the group and  Ms. Supriya Bhalerao, then introduced the AIWS. This  organisation works in  Hyderabad and Secunderabad and focuses on issues of development as well as child education child development, health , education and upliftment of women . Professor Rekha Pande,  Head Centre for  Woman Studies, spoke on the issue of cyber crime and women. She spoke of how throughout history the modes of crimes against women were changing. Today with the emergence of a new knowledge era and cyberspace the forms of violence against women have also changed and assumed new forms. New technologies enable a transgression of the boundaries of “physical” or “real” identities, and in these fluid spaces, individuals forge new relationships and networks, navigating new, and often times, multiple identities.  She discussed how, while women benefit from using new digital and Internet technologies for self-expression, networking, and professional activities and yet women become targets of cyber crimes like adult bullying, cyber stalking, hacking, defamation, morphed pornographic images, and electronic blackmailing. Dr. V Uma  from the Internal Complaints Committee ( ICC) ,  spoke about how ICC,  deals with the issue of harassment of women and girls in the workplace. She discussed various cases and how they tackled them.  She also stated that  it is a very complex matter to solve intricate relationship issues and often these issues when relationships break up cases of sexual harassment are filed.  Mr Umapati, DIG Police,  addresses and introduces  the audience to  the various legal issues by reciting different cases, slogans, and gave some suggestion on how to be alert and have self defence in a complicated situation. He also informed about filing  cases under 490, the IPC act, POCSO acts. He shared important phone numbers to be contacted at the time of emergency such as She teams, Cyber crime numbers. He also  spoke of other   He emphasised that with  Freedom comes with Responsibility. The three talks were followed with a lively discussion, touching upon various issues related to gender violence and safety of women.