South Asian Women's Day celebrated to Share and Show SOLIDARITY
South Asian Women's Day is being celebrated for the first time in Sri Lanka
Litany for Peace
One: Against words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred,
All: We stand together
One: Against suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation,
All: We stand together
One: Against believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations,
All: We stand together
One: Against cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry, homeless and
violence
All: We stand together
One: Against all that prevents us from fulfilling the promise of peace,
All: We stand together
One: Let our friendship heal the broken world we pray,
All: together we believe peace can prevail.
One: To still waters and green pastures,
All: Let us walk
One: To the freedom, and forgiveness we find in us,
All: Let us walk
One: To the tough task of loving our enemies,
All: Let us walk
One: To balanced earth, and food security,
All: Let us walk
One: To the promise of justice, democracy and harmony,
To the wholeness of justice,
To the power o peace,
All: Let us walk together
One: Against words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred,
All: We stand together
One: Against suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation,
All: We stand together
One: Against believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations,
All: We stand together
One: Against cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry, homeless and
violence
All: We stand together
Candles are lit at a house in Bambalapitty, Colombo to celebrate South Asian Women's Day
To strengthen the bonds of friendship and peace with people from South Asia, Sangat celebrates the day SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN’S DAY on 30th November each year from 2002. with its usual spirit of solidarity with friends and partners in many towns and cities of South Asia. Initiated by Sangat and its network of women and men in the year 2002 as part of the International Fortnight against Violence against Women (25th November—10th December), the South Asian Women’s Day is being marked by an increasing number of students, activists and civil society members all over the region.
We South Asians believe that the people of South Asia can bring peace and prosperity for all through friendship and cooperation. This can be done if we create and strengthen a South Asian identity across borders. Therefore, men and women collect in several cities and towns of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) to light candles at the same time (between 5.3o. p.m. and 6.30 pm.) to express solidarity with the people of the region, and demand democracy and peace. Discussions, poetry, song and dance and so on mark the evening. This year South Asian Women’s Day was celebrated in several places in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka by people who are committed to South Asian-ness, peace, democracy, justice, human rights, secularism and pluralism.
Feminists and activists in Colombo created a mobile float, pasted stickers and banners on it (with messages against violence against women) and took it around town. They stopped at various spots to display their campaign material, distribute leaflets as well as to engage people with the issues at hand. Especially, stickers in Sinhala and Tamil were pasted on the 138 route bus (Nugegoda-Pettah,Maharagama-Pettah and Kottawa-Pettah) by the women to create awareness on Violence Against Women (VAW).
Performers on stage showing their solidarity
Banner in English on the float
Hand bills in Sinhala are being distributed to the commuters
Banner in Tamil on the float
Campaign along the side walk in Kirulapone
Banner in Sinhala on the float
Decorated float for the celebration
Hotlines for help to report abuse
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence
A UN resolution designated November 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Scene at the Kirulapone bus stand in Colombo
Songs in Sinhala related to bus journey are being played
Sinhala and Tamil men are seen taking a closer look at the stickers
Campaign on Violence Against Women is currently being carried out
Stickers in Sinhala and Tamil are being pasted at the bus stand
Song and dance depicting the type of harassment in the bus
Sticker in Tamil on a moving bus
Sticker is being pasted in a crowded bu
A catchy display during the campaign in Kirulapone
Commuters are attracted to the campaign
Many handwritten messages are displayed
South Asians United Will Never Be Defeated
Indrani Kusumalatha and her troupe (Community Encouragement Foundation) sing and perform in Kirulapone
Through the window to see what's happening
Overall view of the street campaign
Let’ stand up against harassment
Stella Philip pastes stickers on the bus
The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women~1993 states that "violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men
More information to the public about Violence Against Women and Children
A passer-by is seen got stuck by the display
The United Nations General Assembly defines "violence against women" as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or in private life"
View in Kirulapone during the campaign
On lookers while passing by
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home