Campaigns that WRAG has actively participated in
WRAG actively participates in campaigns for law reform, campaigns in response to judgments of courts of law and campaigns for justice and accountability for violation of human rights
- COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL
- CAMPAIGN ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SRIKRISHNA COMMISSION REPORT
- THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)
- CAMPAIGN FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
- BAN AGAINST BAR DANCERS IN MAHARASHTRA
- THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005
- SEXUAL ASSAULT BILL
- CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTURE
- WITNESS PROTECTION
- MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN
- CAMPAIGN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SACHHAR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN INDIA, DECEMBER 2006 ONWARDS;
- PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST FASCISM, TERRORISM AND FAKE ENCOUNTERS IN AHMEDABAD, SEPTEMBER 2007;
- PARTICIPATION IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL, SEPTEMBER 2007;
- PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCE IN DELHI ON 'STATE VIOLENCE & WOMEN: SURVIVORS, DEFENDERS & LEADERS', IN JULY 2007
- PARTICIPATION IN CAMPAIGN AGAINST USE OF NARCOTICS AS INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES, JULY 2007;
- PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSIONS ON MODEL POLICE ACT AND POLICE REFORMS, MAY 2007 ONWARDS;
- SUPPORT TO LETTER CAMPAIGN ON KAUSAR BI'S AND SOHRABUDDIN'S EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN GUJARAT, MAY 2007;
- PARTICIPATION IN HUMAN RIGHTS ASSEMBLY PRECEDING THE 14TH SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC) SUMMIT, APRIL 2007;
- PARTICIPATION IN A RALLY AGAINST RAPE AND MURDER OF A DALIT FAMILY IN KHAIRLANJI, MAHARASHTRA, DECEMBER 2006 - JANUARY 2007;
The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control & Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill 2005 has been drafted by the UPA government and is likely to be introduced in the Parliament in the winter session of 2007. Many civil society groups and human rights activists have expressed serious concerns with regard to provisions of this Bill. Women's Research & Action Group (WRAG), based in Mumbai, is one of the many groups that have rejected the present version of the Bill, and asked for a formulation of an entirely new Bill, after wider consultations with civil society groups including groups of victims / survivors of communal violence. In early 2008, on the request of the government, groups and individuals including WRAG, drafted a new Communal Crimes Bill. This was submitted to the government on 24 January 2008.
Click here to see the draft of Communal Crimes Bill submitted to the government.
Campaign Against Communal Violence Bill (2005)
CAMPAIGN ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SRIKRISHNA COMMISSION REPORT (that inquired into communal violence of ’92-’93 in Mumbai)
The assertions by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to the Supreme Court on 30 July 2007 that the state government has implemented Justice Srikrishna Commission (hereinafter referred to as SKC) report on the 1992-93 communal violence in Mumbai, and taken action against the errant police officers named in the report, came as a rude shock to those who are aware of its non- implementation and the daily struggle to bring justice to the survivors.
Campaign for the implementation of Justice Srikrishna Commission Report
THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)
As part of VAW, WRAG has been active in the “WE CAN” campaign in South Asia. (http://www.wecanendvaw.org) for the past three years. It regularly participates in the preparatory meetings for events which are held annually in the months of November / December, and works in collaboration with other women’s organizations and like-minded individuals. WRAG’s role has been to use the platform to raise awareness on violence against women among the communities that it works with, as well as to extend solidarity and participate in rallies and other events organized jointly with other members of the civil society.
In 2006, WRAG participated in the following events as a part of the VAW campaign:
- Mobilized community women to participate in the Film Festival which screened films including Armaan & Hari Bhari and was interspersed with street plays.
- Co-organized Seminar “Wars Against Women, Women Against Wars” at the International Peace Festival
- Jointly organized workshop on the “The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005”
WRAG recognizes that abolition of death penalty is an essential ingredient of improving the domestic human rights standards and the law. It has initiated discussions, made presentations, participated in meetings on the issue, and endorsed petitions against death penalty as and when required in individual cases. Some activities of WRAG on this issue include:
- Co-organized a meeting with the Mumbai Initiative for Human Rights Education and made a presentation in the same, January 07
- Participation in & presentation on the gender aspects of death penalty, in a public meeting organized by India Centre for Human Rights & Law , November 06
- Preparation of a training module that can be used with WRAG staff & communities that WRAG works with (Link for training module which will open from here as well as Resources.)
- Letter to President of India on clemency for Afzal Guru , October 06 (Link- for copy of the letter)
- Co-organized a meeting with the Mumbai Initiative for Human Rights Education and made a presentation in the same, January 07
- Endorsed petition protesting against the inadequacy / absence of sexual violence in the Communal Violence Bill. This petition was prepared by Nirantar, endorsed by civil society groups and given to mediapersons against the backdrop of International Women’s Day (8 March 07)
- Organizing & conducting workshops on the issue. These workshops / discussion-meetings have been held in Delhi (March 06), Mumbai (August 06), Kolkata (Sep 06), Ahmedabad (Dec 06), Jodhpur (Jan 07).
- Drafting & sending memorandum for Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (June – July 06)
- Producing resource material – a compilation of relevant documents related to the Communal Violence Bill
In July 2005, the state gpvernment made a move banning dance performances in bars across Maharashtra, as part of its moral-policing efforts. An estimated 75,000 girls, mainly from the lower economic strata, lost their means of livelihood due to the ban. Many girls were forced to commit suicide and many more forced to do sex work for livelihood.
Soon thereafter, petitions were filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the Government's move by three different segments — the bar owners associations, the bar girls’ union and social organisations. The third petition (Writ Petition No. 2338 of 2005) was filed by women’s organizations including WRAG along with Forum Against Oppression of Women, Akshara and Women’s Centre as petitioners. After months of legal battle, on 12 April 2006, the High Court struck down the ban. Subsequently, the state government filed its appeal to the Supreme Court (Special Leave Petition (C) No. 7993 of 2006). In that petition, the women’s groups, including WRAG, have filed a counter affidavit. The petition is pending in the Supreme Court.
WRAG has played an active role in the entire process of planning, discussion, chalking out strategies and litigation along with other women’s groups. WRAG staff have also participated, from time to time, in meetings called by Maharashtra State Commission for Women with bar girls and women’s organizations on the issue, as well as meetings held with lawyers from Delhi who are handling the litigation in the Supreme Court.
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005After several years of effort from women’s groups, a law to protect women from domestic violence was passed in the year 2005. This law provides civil remedies to women victims, and is an important marker in the history of women’s movement in India.
WRAG‘s role in the campaign has been multidimensional, and includes.
- Spreading awareness on the issue at the community level through training programs and discussion forums
- Assisting women victims through mahila mandals (community-based women’s groups) who counsel and also act as pressure groups
- Conducting legal awareness training programs, to encourage use of the new law among victims and potential victims
- Participation in consultative meetings along with other non-governmental organizations during the process of formulation of the law
The Law Commission of India, in its 172nd report, recommended amendment to the existing law on sexual assault. Based on the recommendations, organizations including Sakshi, IFSHA and AIDWA took the initiative to formulate a new draft, in consultation with women’s groups and other members of the civil society all over the country. WRAG has participated in consultative meetings with regard to the law reform process. The Bill is yet to be tabled in the Parliament.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST TORTUREDespite being a signatory to the Convention Against Torture on 14th October, 1997, India is yet to ratify the same. Meanwhile, torture continues to be practised by the police, armed forces and other state agencies as well as non-state actors. WRAG has actively supported the Campaign Against Torture and its staff have been involved in the campaign by
- Preparation of a training module on international legal standards related to torture
- Participation as resource persons in training programs on prevention of torture and the use of law
- Writing & publishing articles on torture & Indian law, practices (appeared in Bangladesh newspaper, Daily Star)
www.thedailystar.net/law/2004/12/03/rights.htm &
http://www.thedailystar.net/law/2005/04/01/index.htm
The Supreme Court in India has time and again lamented on the absence of a law for protection of victim and witnesses The 17th Law Commission prepared a consultation paper on `Witness Identity Protection and Witness Protection Programmes in August 2004.
WRAG has
- Jointly held a West Zone consultative meeting (with ICHRL give expansion of ichrl), April 2005 (Link – Report – which will also open from Resources)
- Wrote & published articles (Combat Law, Lawyers Collective & Urdhva Mula) 2004 & 2005
http://www.indiatogether.com/combatlaw/vol2/issue5/
Responded to Law Commission Paper on Witness Protection, 2005 http://www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=553&issue_id=22
- Included laws related to victim and witness protection in India in almost all Workshops conducted on the International Criminal Court
Jan Manasik Arogya Abhiyaan (mental health campaign) is a rights-based movement initiated by Bapu Trust, Pune to advocate for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, by networking with users, carriers? families, professionals and organizations that have a stake in the mental health sector.
WRAG is actively involved in this campaign through the campaign’s Mumbai chapter and coordinates with the campaign at various levels, focusing particularly on mental health of underprivileged, single women living in communities.