Protecting rights of flood-affected women

Uridhi, a project which will be executed by the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), will address risks of gender-based violence and also sensitise women police to work with the flood affected communities. 

According to Dr Prasanna Gettu, Founder-CEO of PCVC, gender-based violence, especially after a disaster, tends to rise. “In disaster situations, women become more vulnerable to violence, given their situation of living in temporary shelters which lack basic amenities like sanitation and security. Within the span of a year, we want to work with a thousand women, in worst flood hit areas, to build their capacity and address their problems. 

Through community mobilisation, we want to create awareness so they can identify domestic violence, recognise it as an abuse and seek help. We will also ensure they are informed about their rights and explain redressal available. Now, since we are in the process of rehabilitation, we want to empower women, so that they can ensure their safety in the future as well,” said the expert. 

With a seed grant of USD 20,000, the project will also work towards providing safe shelter to victims of violence and also work closely with the women police to address issues of abuse. Will PCVC also sensitise the women police force on dealing with the affected communities? “We want to break the myth that the police is inaccessible to the common people. We want to involve the women police force into the project, so they can work closely with those who have been affected. 

Through discussions and involvement with the community, we want to inform women what the police can and cannot do. I think by close interaction, the women police force too will be sensitised towards dealing with victims of gender-based violence — something which cannot be taught in a classroom,” she explained, adding that reproductive health programs will be conducted for teenage girls to create awareness on sexual abuse. 

Charles C. Li, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai, said that they were also looking at involving local Taiwanese businesses towards helping create safer environment for women. “After the floods, we had a discussion to address the problem of gender violence. We are also trying to get Taiwanese companies here to adopt local communities, mobilising talent and resources to benefit the society,” said Charles.