Gender-based violence poses barrier to create healthy society: Experts

Bhubaneswar: The increasing gender-based violence poses a barrier towards creation of a healthy society. Both men and women are the victims of gender-based violence. Exemplary punishment norms must be effectively executed by the state for rare instances coupled with widespread awareness creation awaking conscious amongst the masses, said noted academician Prof. Asha Hans here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a workshop on ‘Gender-Based Violence and Disability: Action for Change amongst Youth’ organised by the Department of Public Administration, Utkal University in collaboration with Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) and Handicap International, Prof. Hans said women with disabilities are located at a severely disadvantaged position in the current social matrix.

Prof. Hans, who is also the Executive Vice-President of SMRC, said women with disabilities are “excluded within an exclusion” as the discrimination they face intersects on two vulnerabilities of gender and disability. This discrimination determines their position in the social hierarchy, where they are categorised as unwanted and unproductive human resources, she added.

Founder Trustee of The Pragyan Trust Prof. Swarna Rajagopalan, who joined as the keynote speaker online, gender-based violence can occur in any context and it causes both physical and psychological harm to the victims. It is necessary to raise voice in any situation being unperturbed towards public criticism and shaming. As a result, the real guilty can be punished in a faster manner and equity could be established was her lasting impression over the discussion, she said.

Director of Sansristi Prof. Swarnamayee Tripathy talked about social conditioning and voiced her opinion on physical disability aspects of elderly people and legislative correctives in this regard.

While HoD of Public Administration and Associate Professor Dr. Pratima Sarangi presided over the workshop, Assistant Professor Dr. Hemant Kumar Dash moderated the programme. Guest Faculty Biswajit Biswal offered vote of thanks.