Here is a curation of feminist news in the last one week from across the country.
Last Sunday, when Modi announced the #SelfieWithDaughter campaign on Twitter, AIPWA Secretary, Kavita Krishnan had her reservations and she announced the same online. However, both she and actor Shruti Seth bore the brunt of a slew of misogynistic statements and direct threats online.
A PhD researcher at Delhi University filed an FIR against the St Stephen’s College bursar, Satish Kumar for sexual harassment. In the FIR, she has also named the college principal in trying to shield him. Here is a complete chronology of events.
The Madras high court suggested a mediation between a rapist and the survivor. The rape happened when the survivor was 15 years of age. After a public outcry, the Supreme Court ruled rejecting the judge-ordered mediation between rapists and their survivors. However, there have been objections to the language used in this landmark judgement.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Railways to consider seeking help from experts on using technology to ensure safety of women on trains. This came up after hearing PILs following an incident of assault on a train between Nerul and Juinagar.
The Nirbhaya Fund which was established more than 2 years ago is in a sorry state right now. It has been reduced to all talk and very little action.
Outlook India recently published an article where they conveniently made sexist remarks about an IAS officer. She was also referred to as eye-candy in that piece. After loads of public outcry and an official complaint, Outlook retracted the article, claiming it was “satirical.”
Clearly differentiating what exactly amounts to rape, the Karnataka High Court declared that “having sex on the assurance of marriage does not amount to rape.”
Several women’s organizations took part in protests in Vishakapatnam where the lottery draw for liquor outlets was in process. The raised slogans mentioning that they need water and not liquor.
In some superb news, the UPSC results have been declared and the top 4 ranks are bagged by women. In fact the first rank holder is a disabled woman!
Rapes and child sexual abuse are continued occurrences and some verdicts have also been declared.
Christine Mehta, who worked at Amnesty International India for three years, was forced to leave India owing to get scathing report on AFSPA in Jammu & Kashmir. Her exclusive first person account was published recently.
In yet another statement by the RSS, one of its spokesmen declared that “Killing or smuggling a cow is equivalent to raping a Hindu girl.”
Feature Image: IAS 2015 Topper Ira Singhal | www.dailymail.co.uk
