Public dialogue on sexual violence held

Mon Dec 09 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Local Collective Calls for Stronger Measures to Combat Violence Against Women in Karnataka

**Bengaluru, December 9, 2024** – A public dialogue organized by the gender justice collective Naaveddhu Nilladidhare on Saturday urged the Karnataka government to implement stronger measures to combat violence against women. The event, part of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, featured a theatrical performance highlighting the complex intersections of gender, caste, class, and community in relation to violence and consent.

The dialogue brought together representatives from various women’s organizations and communities who shared personal experiences and advocated for change. Speakers highlighted the precarious situations faced by women, including those working in unsafe conditions, like choultry workers lacking basic amenities and safe spaces. The impact of domestic violence was also underscored, with accounts highlighting the long-term struggles faced by survivors and their families.

A charter of demands, initially drafted in February 2024, was presented to Sowmya Reddy, State president of the All-India Mahila Congress. The demands included the revival of Santhwana and Sakhi Kendras (women’s support centers), strengthening women’s desks in police stations, implementing robust monitoring mechanisms for sexual harassment, and providing comprehensive sensitization and training programs for government departments. These measures, the collective argued, are crucial to effectively addressing and preventing violence against women in the state.