Separate commission for minority women mooted
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/separate-commission-for-minority-women-mooted/article6689419.ece?homepage=true
It’s time to mentor men, say speakers at a workshop while talking about atrocities against women
The need for a separate commission to look after the welfare of minority women and a round-the-clock helpline to attend their grievances are among the several suggestions put forth for addressing the problems besetting the fair sex.
Women activists belonging to different minority communities highlighted the problems faced by women at a workshop organised by the State Minorities Commission here on Saturday. Many speakers expressed anguish at the ‘sustained silence’ on part of women whenever atrocities were committed against them. “Time we mentor the men,” said Amena Kishore, Professor, Maulana Azad Chair, MANUU.
Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman, State Minorities Commission, shared the anguish of the speakers and asked the participants to identify the core issues facing minority women. Their recommendations should reach the Commission within a fortnight and after holding wider discussion, the same would be forwarded to the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments.
He wanted the women intellectuals to discuss the need for setting up of fast track courts to deal with cases of violence against women, the talaq and khula cases, harassment of Muslim women, the moneylenders issue in old city. He also wanted them to debate the pros and cons of the uniform civil code proposed by the Centre and come up with their recommendations.
Dr. Shugufta Shaheen, Associate Professor, MANUU, saw no point in talking about minority women since women as such were a marginalised lot. She wanted emotional violence to be addressed since it left deeper scars.
The silence on the part of women was mostly due to the stigma attached to acts of sexual abuse. While the perpetrators went scot-free, the victims suffered ignominy. She felt the matter should be addressed more as a gender and human rights issue than just as a women’s issue.
Dr. Amena Kishore pointed out how Muslim women were seen as opposing the religion when they raised their voice. This happened due to ‘misreading’ of the holy Quran by some misguided men. She wanted women to open up and tell their real time stories.
Lissie Joseph, State Regional Coordinator, Domestic Workers Movement, called for promoting the culture of breaking silence. Rubina Mazhar, CEO, Safa, suggested sensitisation of men, pre-marital counselling, community-based helpline, access of women to mosques in times of need and accountability of Qazis.
Anita Narayanasamy, managing trustee, Sankalp –Women’s Support Alliance, said the voice of minority women needs to be heard as often the larger good of the community was focused upon. Most studies on women in India did not touch upon Muslim women as it was presumed that their Personal Law would govern them.
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