Convention of Women against Sexual violence and State Repression
Invitation to a Convention and a Solidarity Programme on the 12th –13th December at Raipur and 14th at Dantewada, Chattisgarh
Sisters and friends,
Manipur… Gujarat…..Khairlanji…….Shopian……..Singur……Kandhamal…..Dantewada.
Patriarchal oppression aligns itself with, intensifies and is in turn intensified by, every other kind of systemic oppression and injustice. And so, in communal violence, in casteist violence, in violence against displaced people and peoples movements, and above all when a heavily militarized State enters areas as an occupying force, sexual violence and rape becomes a most brutal weapon of repression.
We, women from various organisations from all over India, as also women from various walks of life, working among different sections of people came together at Bhopal on 24th-25th October under the broad banner of “Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression” to strongly and unitedly say “NO ….NOWHERE….NEVER…and NOT ON ANY PRETEXT” to sexual violence against women.
In this Centenary year of 8th March - International Women’s Day we would like this cry to rage from struggling women all over the country. Women, who are sustaining this society by carrying on their backs the burdens of multiple oppression, who are everywhere taking to the streets and leading struggles against all odds, demand to be recognised as a political force for change, for equality, for justice.
As a part of our campaign we are, together with women’s organisations in Chhattisgarh, holding a Convention in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on this theme on 12th and 13th December 2009, in which we plan to share the experiences of struggle in our respective areas, develop deeper solidarity with one another and concretely take forward our collective national campaign. On 14th December, we would join a programme of solidarity at Dantewada with Adivasi women of Bastar and Dantewada who, despite being subject to brutal State sexual violence, are bravely struggling to get justice in an atmosphere where the voices of democratic forces to implement the Supreme Court’s order to rehabilitate 3.5 lakh displaced Adivasis of 644 villages is being drowned out by strident calls to declare war on Naxalites.
We request you to come and join us.
We will provide very simple arrangements for stay and food for the 12th and 13th at Raipur and request those who will travel towards on the 14th to Dantewada to make some contribution, as may be feasible.
In solidarity and sisterhood,
Women against Sexual violence and State Repression
As currently represented by: AIPWA, AISA (Delhi), Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, Chhatisgarh Mukti Morcha (Chhatisgarh), Dalit Stree Shakti (Andhra Pradesh), HRLN (Madhya Pradesh), Human Rights Alert (Manipur), IRMA (Manipur), IWID, Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (Madhya Pradesh), Kashipur Solidarity (Delhi), Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch (Madhya Pradesh), Nari Mukti Sanstha (Delhi), Navsarjan (Gujarat), NBA (Madhya Pradesh), Pratidhwani (Delhi), PUCL (Karnataka), Saheli (Delhi), Sahmet (Madhya Pradesh), Samajwadi Jan Parishad (Madhya Pradesh), Sangini (Madhya Pradesh), Vanangana (Uttar Pradesh), Vidyarthi Yuvjan Sabha, Women’s Right Resource Center (Madhya Pradesh), Yuva Samvaad (Madhya Pradesh), Stree Adhikar Sanghatan (Uttar Pradesh).
