Kolkata: US Consulate holds a workshop on Gender-based violence

The two-day workshop entitled 'Women: Understanding my Responsibility in Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Inequality' was organised by the US Consulate Kolkata in partnership with New Delhi based NGO Shakti Vahini.

The workshop, inaugurated by US Consul General Craig Hall, was attended by nearly 75 college and university students from West Bengal and Delhi.

Activists and resource persons across the country participated in the workshop, teaching the students how to deal with atrocities against women and raising awareness about issues related to gender differences prevalent in the society.

Raymond O. Caldwell, Resident-director and full-time Theatre professor in the Department of Theatre Arts at Howard University was present at the workshop and interacted with the students, teaching them how to use art to address issues surrounding GBV.

The organisers also arranged for the Indian student to connect virtually with the student leader  from the University of Texas, Austin. They shared best practices from the US university’s on-campus Voices against Violence program.

The workshop, which has been planned across east and north east India, aims to focus on strengthening the gender equality on university campuses and also the global fight to end gender based violence.

It aims to support the creation of a model cell/grouping within the campuses to address GBV,  to support a local effort, along the lines of the White Ribbon campaign, to enlist male students to address GBV, create an awareness about the support system provided by law enforcement agencies, and emphasize on empowerment through social media, especially to unite online and offline (traditional NGOs) with anti GBV activists.