And so we close the 2010 campaign season...

This has been such a challenging campaign to organize: new partners, new frontiers, new media, new formats... as we upload the campaign report and close the blog, we do so, incredulously.

This last post begins with many acknowledgments: to team-members, to partners, to donors and to resource people, for starters.

Namitha Joseph was a patient and accessible Campaign Coordinator, making endless rounds of persuasive calls and calls to remind people of promises made. Given the scheduling challenges November-December pose for working with colleges, she gets complete credit for building bridges for Prajnya across Chennai's colleges. We will thank her and benefit from her hard work for a few years at least!

Subhashini Selvanathan's work on this campaign went well beyond her usual administrative and accounting responsibilities. She went out to do invitations, checked out venues and was an active member of the programme planning team this year. Truly, this campaign, like most of Prajnya's activities, would not have been possible without her hard work and systematic efforts.

Anupama Srinivasan, as Programme Director of the Gender Violence Research and Information Taskforce at Prajnya, has brought depth to campaign programming through her year-round engagement with gender violence research. The idea of the Women's Safety Audit was introduced by her into the campaign, and she designed and led the Audit along with local volunteers as well as organized the Public Forum where the findings of the Audit were shared.

Prajnya team members provided excellent moral and backstage support as usual: Nandhini and Sweta created a powerpoint for us to use and handled a whole lot of writing and editing work; Nirupa has been the keeper of our mailing lists for over a year and so word gets out on time about our activities and programmes; Uma wrote the substantive sections of the desk resource for television teams and Kavitha Muralidharan translated the text into Tamil overnight; Priya conceptualised and put together 'Who's your SHero?', our first campaign programme for school children; Sowmya conceptualised and put together 'AIKYA' the campaign concert; Sruthi put together the YouTube Channel; Vasughi updated the wiki... and if I have forgotten anyone, it's because my memory is imperfect, not that your work is unimportant.

I want to mention Hemant Shivakumar here. He started out by volunteering but his responsible and multi-dimensional engagement with campaign programmes meant that he finished as part of the team. Hemant and his friends came to help set things up at the kacheri and the poetry reading. Hemant then took charge of live-blogging at Laddies Night, the public forum and the seminar on ICT and gender violence. He was also rapporteur at Intersect, the consultative dialogue. Hemant and his friend also walked in women's stilletoes at Laddies Night, to show support for the fight against gender violence.

The idea for Laddies Night came from Koushik Udayashankar, and it took the campaign out to people who may or may not have been able or comfortable to attend our other programmes. Laddies Night also expanded our community to include the Zara and Koblerr teams.

In fact, partners are always the good news at the end of the campaign. Each year, we remember how many people walk with us on this journey. Some have been with us from the beginning, and some have joined us this year. PCVC, Queen Mary's College, Marappachi Trust, AVTAR_I-WIN, Tulir, Omayal Achi College of Nursing and Full Circle @Chamiers have worked with us again this year. Chennai Police, Madras School of Social Work and Empowering Women in IT are some of our wonderful new partners.

The resource people who made the campaign possible: Sudha Raja, Vidya Kalyanaraman, Dr. Srilata K., Salma, Kutti Revathi, Sharanya Manivannan, Sharadha Shankar, Dr. Rathi Jafer, Amukta Mahapatra, VR Devika, Dr. Nirmala Prasad, Kavitha Selvaraj, Katheeja Talha, Ranjitha Gunasekaran, Indhu Subramaniam, Usha BN, Anita Gurumurthy, Chloe Zollmann, Dr. Rama Subramaniam, Jamuna Swamy, Dr. Sudhakar and all the wonderful officers from Chennai Police that we worked with, especially: Addl. Commissioner Shakeel Akhter, DCP Kilpauk S. Lakshmi and DCP Adyar Dr. Sarangan. This is your campaign; you make it happen.

And finally, to all our donors and those who supported us by providing us space or other help, a big thank you: you verily are the wind beneath our wings!

We close the campaign season and the campaign blog now, and will see you next in 2012.

That's right, 2012: After three years of organizing the Prajnya 16 Days Campaign, we want to take a year off--a campaign sabbatical--to take stock, to re-group and consolidate our resource base and to build a year-round agenda of research and programmes in which the campaign can be embedded. We will be back in September 2012 with a renewed edition of this blog, and in November 2012 with our fourth campaign. But the campaign continues in our work and in our hearts. And we count on your being with us through this coming period.

Thank you again!

Prajnya's first Women's Safety Audit

At a workshop organised by Jagori earlier this year, several organisations from across India learnt about Jagori's work on women's safety in public spaces in Delhi. A key objective of this workshop, which I attended, was to demonstrate the usefulness of the safety audit tool as a way to measure women's safety. Since then, we've been keen to pilot this in Chennai and decided to do so as part of this year's campaign.

Very simply, this is how a women's safety audit works:

You choose an area - either residential or a public space like a market or a mall or even a main road. A team of 5-6 members (primarily residents of that area) walk the area, looking to identify various factors that make it either safe or unsafe for women. This could include street lights, the presence/absence of hawkers/shops (who might respond if a woman needs help), pavements, empty lots with men hanging about, etc etc. In addition, the team also plots the area on a map, takes photos, videos and does spot interviews with people.

Moreover, one of the major objectives is to find ways to integrate issues of women's safety and sexual harassment into urban planning. This is why the walk actually looks at several aspects of urban infrastructure which are common to men and women - roads, lights, police support, etc etc. The idea is that if a city is safe for women, it is safe for everyone else too (including say, the disabled, for example). Equally, we believe that it is important to expand the idea of safety as something more than a law and order issue to include all these other factors.

We decided to audit a select area in Besant Nagar as a first step, for two reasons: the combination of a popular public space (the beach) and a residential area was particularly interesting and secondly, we identified an enthusiastic group, thanks to the enthusiastic involvement of Sharadha Shankar, a local resident of the area. Over the next few weeks, we identified the specific area we wanted to audit, revised the checklist shared by Jagori and explained the process to the team.

A report based on the preliminary findings is pasted below. Prajnya will now share the findings with relevant authorities and we also hope to expand the audit to other parts of the city.

Women’s Safety Audit, Besant Nagar

Preliminary Report

Who we are: A group of local residents living in the Besant Nagar area, along with a small team from Prajnya.

What we did: Undertook and carried out a women’s safety audit in select areas of Besant Nagar on Monday, 29 November 2010.

Why we did this: The safety audit is a tool used in several cities around the world to understand whether a particular area is safe for women. The audit helps local residents assess their own areas from the point of view of infrastructure, looking at roads and streets, lights, availability of public toilets, etc. The audit is based on the premise that a city safe for women is safe for everyone.

This area was chosen for a specific reason: it is a residential area but with a well-used and busy public place (the beach).

The area we covered: 5th Avenue, 32^nd, 33^rd and 34^th Cross Street, Besant Nagar.

What we found:

1. While the area is generally considered safe during the day, several of the inner streets are considered unsafe after dark, especially 32^nd Cross Street.
2. Lighting is a major concern:
1. The lights only come on at around 6pm, by which time it is already dark.
2. The only source of light, before the street lights come on, is from shops, who switch on their lights between 5.30pm and 5:45pm.
3. Several of the existing street lights do not function.
4. The light posts are so high up that they are hidden by the trees. Therefore the light is very dim.
3. There have been a few incidents of chain snatching, all targeting women, in recent months. These have taken place both at night and during the day.
4. Several of the footpaths are not accessible for the disabled or those with prams.
5. There is a run-down Electricity Board building behind the Metro Water complex. The windows are broken and residents report seeing men gather there, drinking and using the place as a toilet.
6. On the three inner lanes, despite several houses, there are few people on the road.
7. A section of the playground on 34^th Cross Street is cordoned off with tall aluminium sheets. There is virtually no lighting here, and this is a definite unsafe area.

What we recommend (based on our preliminary findings):

1. In ‘winter’ months, the lights need to come on earlier, at 5:30pm at least.
2. The existing street lights need to be fixed and new ones added on some of the inner lanes.
3. The height of the light posts could be lowered, so that they offer better light and are not blocked by the trees.
4. Something is done about the Electricity Board building: the windows are re-fixed, the building cordoned off or security appointed.

This audit was organised as part of the 2010 Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.

Logging into (In)Security: ICTs and Gender Violence

Official Press Release

Chennai, 10 December: With the increased use of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), there is increased potential for the abuse of ICT, with often humiliating and tragic consequences for women users. This was discussed at Logging into (In)Security, a seminar on ICT and Gender Violence, organised by Prajnya as part of the 2010 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence, in partnership with Empowering women in IT (eWIT).

“Everyone is impacted by ICT, whether as users or non-users. We often assume that access to the ICTs automatically means inclusion and therefore empowerment. But there are digital dangers, with implications for the security of women”, said Ms. Chloe Zollman of Bangalore-based IT for Change.

Dr Rama Subramaniam, criminologist and CEO of Valiant Technologies pointed out that the majority of victims online are not aware that they had been victimized. “It is not possible for any individual to monitor every single website every day to see if his/her photo has been misused. By the time s/he discovers it by chance, the damage has been done”, he said.

Discussing the challenges that law enforcement officials commonly face, Dr. Sudhakar IPS, Asst. Commissioner, Cyber Crimes Cell, Chennai Police, reiterated the urgent need for a global law. “We are trying to address a problem that has an international dimension with a local law. We need something that will help us gather any required information from various intermediaries”, he said. He cited several examples of online abuse directed at women, especially after the breakup of a relationship or a marriage.

Ms. Jamuna Swamy, Head, Information Security, Hexaware Technologies, drew attention to the importance of both prevention and deterrence, as methods to anticipate and address online violence. All the speakers pointed out that technology itself can be used to fight back against exploitation. “It is possible to challenge violence and power in constructive ways, using digital technology to create safe spaces where people can meet, in a non-threatening way. But for this, we have to teach others to use the tools”, emphasised Ms. Zollman.

“A programme of this type is hugely beneficial to women in the IT and ITES industries, who are perhaps the largest users of ICT and therefore most vulnerable to its abuse”, pointed out Ms. Vijayalakshmi Rao, President, eWIT. “For Prajnya, the real challenge is to create the awareness that enables victims to identify what they experience as violence, and as something that is not their fault, whether in the real world or cyberspace”, said Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan, Managing Trustee, Prajnya.

The seminar, the first in partnership between eWIT and Prajnya, was chaired by Kalyani Narayanan, Vice President - eWIT and attended by a cross-section of IT professionals, students and other concerned citizens.

Intersect: Summary of discussions

INTERSECT: A CONSULTATIVE DIALOGUE

December 7, 2010

Summary

College students in the city continue to face sexual harassment on the street and while using public transport. This was discussed at Intersect, a consultative dialogue between students and the Chennai Police, facilitated by Prajnya as part of the 2010 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.

The focus of the discussion was on safety in public spaces, looking primarily at issues of sexual harassment. Each college was represented by two students, majority of whom were office bearers or student union members. Students were given an opportunity to briefly present their key concerns:

• Anna University identified misbehaviour by men in buses, and frequent phone calls from strangers as key issues. They also identified their college bus stop as not very safe, particularly in evenings.
• Students of Ethiraj College identified Crescent Avenue as well as a tea shop outside the college where men gathered frequently to smoke and pass comments as their main problems.
• Student representatives from Hindustan College identified the urgent need for more sustained, direct contact between the student council and the police.
• For students of Madras Christian College, harassment on the trains, especially in the general compartments, was a real concern; given the college’s location in Tambaram, several students travel daily by train.
• The presentation by Meenakshi College students reiterated all these issues.
• Students of Queen Mary’s College described their helplessness when strangers took photos or videos of them on their cell phones; students also faced issues with drunk men loitering around bus stands and sexual harassment on buses.
• Students from Women’s Christian College observed that girls who travel to college on bikes are often followed by groups of men or boys and harassed.

In their turn, the police officers responded to these observations by the students, describing several potential solutions:

• Inspector Ariyamala described the 1091 helpline number, pointing out that it functioned as a 24 hour helpline for women in distress.
• Inspector Muniandi advised the students to always note down the IMEI number of their cell phones; this information can be used in the event of any cell phone-related crimes.
• Inspector Jawahar pointed out that most eve-teasers were students themselves and for that reason, prosecution is near impossible. “Families also believe that the girl’s future will also be spoilt if she is associated with a court case and they hesitate to come forward. If one college registers a case and we are able to take it forward, then this will discourage other mischief mongers”, he said.
• Describing several cases, Inspector Subburaj noted that technology has been used to solve crimes.
• Assistant Commissioner Ashokkumar explained the police system in Tamil Nadu to the students, describing the various roles and responsibilities. He urged students to always be aware of which jurisdiction they came under.

JC Seshasayee joined the discussion at this stage, and encouraged the student representatives to act as ambassadors and share their knowledge with other students. He asked them to contact the SMS helpline, 9500099100 in case they witnessed any emergencies but were hesitant to get involved.

Students from MCC observed that in colleges with students from several different cultural backgrounds, simple communication was often misunderstood as eve teasing. Where can one draw the boundaries of what constitutes eve teasing? The JC responded that it is up to the girl to decide whether a particular instance was eve teasing or not. “Normally, girls don’t give complaints just like that, she also has to spend her time in a station and forego many things”, he said. It was noted that harassment is what the person perceives and not necessarily what the perpetrator intends.

Students raised several questions; for instance, what could they do if they were harassed on the bus, and the harasser got off at the next stop. The JC assured them that the police would take into account what witnesses had to say and register a complaint based on that. Similarly, he advised that if a girl is followed by a group of boys in a desolate area with no one around, then it is best to use her cell phone to speak to her family, or even call 100 in case of an emergency. He also encouraged students to try and sort out issues at local and community levels in many cases.

Finally, students were unanimous that visits by women police officers would not only help students understand police procedures better but also motivate them to register complaints.

Intersect: Dialogue between Chennai Police and student representatives

The official press release:

College students in the city continue to face sexual harassment on the street and while using public transport. This was discussed today at Intersect, a consultative dialogue between students and the Chennai Police, facilitated by Prajnya as part of the 2010 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.

Invitations were sent to over 30 colleges in the city and nine responded positively, submitting a brief that summarized the specific concerns of students in their college.

Students revealed through their responses that they faced harassment particularly in buses, and around bus stands, irrespective of the college location. In addition, an emerging problem is that of SMS and cyber stalking.

The students representatives also observed that the majority of those harassed did not complain or ask for help, mainly because people would think they were making a fuss for no good reason. They welcomed the opportunity to interact directly with the police, suggesting that women police officer visit colleges more frequently and organise meetings and workshops.

Intersect was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Outdoor Stadium meeting room and attended by representatives from Prajnya as well as several police officers including Joint Commissioner Chennai North Mr. Seshasayee, Deputy Commissioner Kilpauk Ms. S. Lakshmi, Asst Commissioner Vepery Mr. Ashokkumar, Inspector Kilpauk Police Station Subbaraj, Inspector Vepery Police Station Jawahar, Inspector Indian Coach Factory Police Station Muniandi and All-Women's Police Station, Kilpauk Inspector, Aryamala.

Logging Into (In)Security: Photos

We wanted to organise a campaign programme on cybercrimes and gender violence for the longest time but somehow it just hadn't worked out. Then suddenly, at a scarily late date in the campaign planning season, things began to fall into place. We tracked down speakers we really wanted. We chanced upon amazing partners (eWIT). And before you knew it, a very substantial conversation was happening (which Hemant has live-blogged here, as you know).

Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Training of Trainers, Dec 8-9, 2010

For the second year in a row, we invited Indhu and Usha from Hengasara Hakkina Sangha to lead a training workshop on gender sensitization and workplace sexual harassment. AVTAR I-WIN partnered with us again. Participants were HR professionals from firms mostly based in Chennai, although this year we had one participant who came down from Pune especially to attend the workshop.