Challenging violence against women from minority communities in South Asia
Women from minority communities in South Asia (comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) face complex forms of discrimination emanating from the intersection of their gender identity, ethnic and/or religious belonging, caste and economic class. Women are at high risk of violence from state and non-state actors as they bear the consequences of patriarchal social structures tied to majoritarian political ideologies, further marginalizing them within society, and impeding access to their rights.
A myriad factors and forms of gender-based violence compound to compromise the safety and well-being of women and girls and must be addressed holistically for prevention and response efforts to be effective. The rise of majoritarian politics in South Asia further creates an unsafe environment for women from minority communities being often targeted and vilified by political discourses and policies.
On the occasion of the 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence, the South Asia Collective will address the challenges to combat violence against women from minority communities in South Asia, through a discussion with practitioners, activists and law-makers from the region.
The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Karuna Onta, and will include:
Fakherah Moussavi, Researcher, writer, and interpreter on women's rights in Afghanistan.
Advocate Kamrun Nahar, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer and practitioner, with expertise on violence against women and children. She has worked with Naripokkho & Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service for the last 27 years.
Eisha Choudhary, doctorate from Jamia Millia Islamia University (India) who has conducted research on the intersectionalities of gender, faith, and entrepreneurship for Muslim women in India.
Pratima Gurung, Nepali academic activist who has worked on bridging multiple marginalised identities (indigenous peoples, women with disabilities) and initiating cross-movement collaboration.
Elaine Alam, Pakistani human rights expert with extensive experience in poverty reduction programmes and community development and carried out work on forced conversions, and the rights of women especially religious minorities
Shyamala Gomez, Sri Lankan Human Rights Lawyer and Activist, and Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Equality and Justice (CEJ), working to include women in transitional justice processes
With a key note address from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem.