The UN General Assembly defines “violence against women” as “any act of gender-based violence that Results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexualor mentalharm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Womennotes that’ violence could be perpetrated by assailants of gender, family members and even the ‘State’ itself’. A UN resolutionhas designated 25th November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

While worldwide governments and organizations actively work to combat violence against women through a variety of programs,the march towards gender equality slowly progresses around the world, one disturbing issue remains unresolved — safety for women.  While countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Somalia are seen as the world’s most unsafe for women, large segments of women do not feel safe even in the developed world. A recent survey by Gallup shows that in countries like the United States, where 82% of men feel comfortable going out at night, just 62% of women do. Gender inequality at the root, aculture of complicity combined with poverty and illiteracy are some of the issues that make Indian women more unsafe in their own country. For every Malala whose life is saved , there is a Bhavari Devi,  Aruna Shanbhag ,Ruchika Gihrotra, Neerja Bhanot, Sonali Mukherjee , Baby Falak and many more. The list does not really end with ‘Nirbhaya’.

Weschool  takes a lead once again in bringing student-youth and the citizens of Mumbai together to address one of the country’s most pressing social problems,discuss the complex issues involved  in the path to women empowerment, to find solutions for  preventive measures and redress mechanisms to make the women safe in the country. A distinguished panel of speakers representing important pillars of society whose valuable thoughts will help to collectively strengthen this cause and lead towards creating a concrete action plan for society is the agenda for the day.

Eminent panelists representing different important stakeholders include Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice –Chancellor of University of Mumbai ,Flavia Agnes- Women’s rights Activist-lawyer , Mona Cheriyan-HR director- and member of the Advisory Board of ASK Investment Managers Pvt Ltd ,  Dolly Thakore- Theater Director, Actress and  communication consultant  and ACP Praveen Salunkhe will come together to discuss the issues and find solutions for joint implementation.