Uniting for Women’s Safety and Empowerment

On November 25-26, 2024, Sky Social in partnership with Women and Child Development Department, Madhya Pradesh successfully hosted Mahila Suraksha Samvad, a state-level consultation dedicated to strengthening women’s protection, safety, and empowerment in Madhya Pradesh. The event, organized on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, aligned with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign. It served as a strategic platform for key stakeholders, including government officials, law enforcement agencies, youth leaders, legal experts, and community organizations, to come together and develop concrete solutions for addressing gender-based violence.

Dr. Kapoor presented an insightful session on community policing as a tool for women’s safety, focusing on successful initiatives like Srijan and Police Didi. He emphasized how active collaboration between law enforcement and local communities leads to better reporting, prevention, and redressal of gender crimes. Through real-life case studies, he demonstrated how community-driven models can improve trust and responsiveness in policing. He further discussed how law enforcement agencies can incorporate gender-sensitive training to improve their engagement with survivors of violence. He stressed the importance of localizing police outreach programs to make them more accessible and impactful, ensuring that women feel safe and supported when reporting crimes.

The third session of Day 1 of the Mahila Suraksha Samvad was led by Kumud Singh, the Founder of Sarokar, a prominent social organization dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The session, titled “Understanding Gender-Based Violence and Developing Action Plans for Local Implementation,” aimed to raise awareness about the societal roots of gender-based violence (GBV) and provided participants with the tools to reflect on their own personal biases, which can sometimes inadvertently perpetuate harmful practices.

Mrs. Vyas provided a detailed overview of One Stop Centers (OSCs) as critical support hubs for survivors of gender-based violence. She explained how OSCs offer legal aid, psychological counseling, shelter, and medical support, ensuring survivors receive holistic assistance under one roof. The session highlighted the challenges in implementing OSCs effectively, including awareness gaps, accessibility issues, and the need for stronger interdepartmental collaboration. Mrs. Vyas emphasized the importance of proactive outreach, ensuring survivors know where to seek help.

This session focused on the deep psychological trauma survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) experience and the critical need for mental health interventions. Ms. Kanhere discussed common psychological effects, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and self-blame, which often prevent survivors from seeking justice. She emphasized that societal stigmas surrounding GBV further isolate survivors, making professional intervention essential. She highlighted the importance of trauma-informed care, encouraging law enforcement officers, social workers, and community leaders to adopt sensitive approaches when handling survivors’ cases. Participants learned about coping mechanisms, the role of peer support, and how mental health services should be integrated into One Stop Centers (OSCs) and helplines.

SP Beena Singh delivered a powerful session on the role of Dial 100 as a real-time emergency response system for women in distress. She elaborated on how the integration of technology, law enforcement, and community participation ensures swift intervention in cases of violence, harassment, and abuse. Through case studies, she illustrated successful interventions, where Dial 100 played a crucial role in preventing crimes and rescuing survivors. She also stressed the importance of community awareness, ensuring that women and girls across MP utilize the helpline effectively.

Dr. Arya provided an in-depth legal perspective on India’s legal frameworks for women’s protection, covering the BNS, POCSO Act, Domestic Violence Act, and IT Act. She explained how survivors can seek justice through legal channels, emphasizing the role of protection officers, law enforcement, and the judiciary in enforcing these laws. A key discussion point was the gap between legal provisions and their on-ground implementation. Dr. Arya stressed the need for better training of law enforcement officers and stronger legal awareness at the community level to ensure that laws serve their intended purpose. Case studies were shared to illustrate both successes and challenges in women’s legal protections.