Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Launch of Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA)

Venue: Public Gardens, Opposite Jubilee Hall
Date and Time: 18 October 2009, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mothers-in-law in our country are being severely discriminated against, neglected and subjected to all forms of domestic abuse over the last decade. Unless provisions are made to protect mothers-in-law from discrimination, domestic violence, and legal harassment, and unless steps are taken to ensure their welfare during their post-menopausal years, we will witness serious deterioration in the health conditions of aging women in the country, and reduction in their life span.

Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) is the first ever social forum created to protect the rights and interests of mothers-in-law in Andhra Pradesh. APMPA is the Andhra Pradesh chapter of All India Mothers-in-law Protection Forum (http://www.aimpf.org) which was launched on 6 September 2009 in Bangalore, followed by the launch of local chapters in Delhi, Nagpur and Lucknow.

Mothers-in-law have historically been portrayed as evil and bloodthirsty by media and popular culture. However, it is a scientifically and also statistically established fact that mothers-in-law are unnecessarily maligned and subjected to discrimination by the society.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (http://www.nfhsindia.org Vol-1 Page 500) has conclusively established that a woman in the age group of 15-49 years of age faces 8 times more violence from her own mother compared to her mother-in-law. 13.7% women have faced violence from their own mother as compared to 1.7% women who have faced from their mothers-in-law.

Recent Research has shown that “daughters-in-law are programmed to hate mothers-in-law”. This is one of the most important causes of the stereotyping of mothers-in-law in the society.

Mothers-in-law are being discriminated against in spite of their generosity just for the sin of giving birth to sons and getting them married. They are being forced to part with their earnings, savings and inherited wealth and they are being thrown out of their own property at the behest of a disgruntled daughter-in-law. They are losing their mental peace and health, and many a time even their husbands and sons to untimely death or suicide when daughters-in-law indulge in making false allegations and defamation of the husband’s family. In many instances, the mothers-in-law themselves commit suicide.

Mothers -in-law in India face severe abuse from daughters-in-law:

• Physical harassment including assault, locking up the mother-in-law in a room, denying food and medication etc.
• Mental harassment including taunts, allegations, caustic comments, threatening to file police cases, disallowing communication with her son, grandchildren, defaming her and her family etc.
• Verbal harassment including name calling, insulting, abusing, etc.
• Economic abuse including extorting her money and wealth, throwing her out of her own house and forcibly occupying the house, etc.
• Legal harassment including inciting the police to threaten her, filing false cases under Dowry Prohibition Act, IPC Section 498A, Domestic Violence Act, and other related sections, sending her to jail or forcing her to run around the court for years together.
• Driving mothers-in-law to commit suicide.


The National Family Health Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Family Health and Welfare only counts women between the ages of 15-49 as women. Mothers-in-law who fall in the age bracket above 49 do not count as women, and their health and welfare is not a matter of concern for the Government of India.

While there are close to 15 laws that provide protection to daughters-in-law, mothers-in-law do not have any societal support or legal protection from any form of discrimination or abuse.

In the last four years, over 1,23,497 women, most of them being mothers-in-law, have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, not for committing any crime under law, but only because they were related to a man.

Noted women’s rights activist Madhu Kishwar acknowledged that IPC Section 498A is heavily misused, and that a significant proportion of individuals who approach “Manushi” these days are mothers-in-law and husbands who are falsely accused of marital cruelty and dowry harassment.

Renowned IPS officer Kiran Bedi admitted that many poor and illiterate mothers-in-law, who are falsely charged under anti-dowry laws, are languishing in prison every year.

Several elderly women, falsely accused under IPC Section 498A (for the only crime of mothering sons and getting the sons married) approached the National Commission for Women, seeking justice. These women have long heart-rending accounts of how they are being harassed by their daughters-in-law. The NCW’s short, yet prompt and candid response to these mothers was, “Your matter does not fall under the mandate of the Commission”.

Similarly, in June 2009, a 45 year old mother-in-law was arrested in a dowry harassment case filed by her daughter-in-law. The poor lady was allegedly gang-raped in police custody, in Bhopal. The news, which was reported in leading newspapers, went completely unnoticed by the NCW or any other women’s organization that harps about fighting atrocities against women. No panel was set up. No probe was initiated and no action has been taken against this brutality perpetrated against a mother-in-law.

On 8 October 2009, a news report described the gut-wrenching tale of a 75-year-old mother-in-law, Jiwan Devi, who is another victim of societal and legal bias against mothers-in-law. Holding back her tears, here is what she said to the journalist who visited her:

“What is the point?...I and my sons were in jail for four years before we were acquitted. And my grandchildren were at the mercy of our neighbours and distant relatives. Why?... My granddaughter is 19. While all her friends are in college, she is still in class 11. This happened only because there was no one to take care of them while we were in jail. They were also in deep shock”'

There are thousands of Jiwan Devis in this country, whose lives have been destroyed, just for having given life to sons. These are the women whose woes do not fall under the agenda of the Ministry for Women and Child Development, the National Commission for Women, or any other related women’s organization, and they have nowhere to go to seek help and support for problems specifically affecting them.

APMPA will work towards the protection and welfare of such mothers-in-law in distress by creating awareness, giving them moral support and counseling. We will also urge the government to reform the present “wife-centric” domestic violence laws and demand equal protection for mothers-in-law from domestic violence.

The helpline numbers of the Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association are 9704683163, 9753605415. Mothers-in-law facing harassment from their daughters-in-law can contact these numbers.

Photos - Launch of AlMWA

Please follow the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/challa.uma/AllIndiaMenSWelfareAssociation#

News Coverage - Launch of AIMWA

We received excellent media coverage on the occasion of the launch of All India Men's Welfare Association.

Eenadu, Andhra Jyothi, Vaartha, Andhra Prabha, Sakshi, Praja Sakti and TV5 published a total of 9 articles on the event. The translations will be posted here soon.

News of the launch of AIMWA was shown on Gemini TV, NTV, Saakshi TV and TV5.

All India Men's Welfare Association - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Launch of “All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA)”
11 October 2009
Venue: Public Gardens, Opposite Jubilee Hall
Date and Time: 11 October, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. India is observing this occasion for the first time this year, and four organizations in Hyderabad – Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting - launched a month-long campaign on 2 October, the International Day of Non-Violence.

The campaign aims at educating the Indian public about how the problem of domestic violence has, for decades, been misrepresented, how domestic violence has been commercialized, and how Indian laws claiming to prevent domestic violence are actually promoting domestic violence and human rights abuses against men, women and children. We will also urge lawmakers and the Government to make appropriate reforms in laws and policies and push for gender neutral provisions to end domestic violence against men, women and children.

As part of this campaign, we are launching an “All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA)", a National level organization based in Hyderabad, on 11 October 2009.

Why do we need an “All India Men’s Welfare Association”?

Welfare of boys and men has been seriously neglected in India over the last two decades. While proudly championing the cause of women’s rights and women’s empowerment, the government and society tacitly approved the propagation of anti-male sentiments, condoned the resultant diminution in value of men’s lives and supported blatant violation of men’s rights through discriminatory laws and policies. The growing apathy of the government and society towards the sufferings of men has necessitated the formation of an All India Men’s Welfare Association.

It has to be noted that while men still perform some of the most risky and challenging jobs in the society, and while the Government of India collects 82% of its tax revenue from men, not a single rupee has been allocated in the name of men’s welfare in the country’s budget in the last 60 years.

The National Family Health Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, does not consider men’s health and welfare important. Enormous focus on women and children, and the mention of men only in relation to how they should contribute to the health and welfare of women and children, clearly indicates the apathy of the Government towards men.

The homepage of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) cites Vardhamana Mahavira, the sage of total non-violence, who said, "All beings are fond of themselves, they like pleasure, they hate pain, they shun destruction, they like life and want to live long. To all, life is dear; hence their life should be protected." While Mahavira’s teachings seem to have inspired the Indian Government to assign a separate ministry to look after issues of Animal Welfare through AWBI, the same Government did not see any necessity to establish a Ministry for Men’s Welfare.

Several laws have been passed in the last 60 years in the name of protection of women and their empowerment. However, there are no laws to protect boys and men from any form of abuse or harassment within and outside the home. Men are being subjected to severe discrimination under law, and their basic human rights are being violated every day in the name of more and more legal provisions that claim to empower and protect women.

Thousands of men are becoming victims of “legal terrorism” unleashed through laws like Indian Penal Code Section 498A, Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, adultery laws, laws against rape and sexual harassment, and even divorce, maintenance and child custody laws.

While society is applauding more and more women getting educated, entering the job market and challenging their traditional roles within the family and society, men are still being shackled to their traditional duties of protecting and providing for women, children and the aged.

The growing disregard and hatred against men in our society is forcing more than 56,000 Indian men to end their lives every year. According to statistics obtained from the National Crime Records Bureau, every year, twice as many married men, compared to women, commit suicides unable to withstand verbal, emotional, economic and physical abuse and legal harassment. Deaths of these men make for the brief stories we often read in newspapers stating that a certain man “killed himself due to family issues or financial problems”. While every death of a young married woman is converted into a case of dowry death leading to immediate arrest of the husband and in-laws, accompanied by media-hype, male-bashing and breast-beating, large-scale suicides of men do not cause any outrage in the society.

Domestic and social harmony will prevail only when women AND men are ensured their rightful, honorable place within and outside the home. In addition, when we ensure true gender equality under law, litigations will be reduced, legal terrorism and extortion through misuse of the law will be eliminated, and our human and financial resources can be employed for betterment of the society and the country.

The aim of AIMWA is to work towards providing protection for men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. The organization will also focus on related issues like physical and mental health of men, and the need for social changes, policy reforms and legal solutions to men’s problems.

Which idiot says the DV Act is misused?

Day in and Day out, we get to hear so many cases of the women-centric laws being misused. Be it the 498A or the PWDVA (Commonly known as the DV Act), everyone around alleges that these laws are being misused by the legal terrorists to terrorize their husbands and their families and using them as Free ATM Machines.

However, a critical study of this PWDVA law itself, makes me wonder; is this law really being misused at all? Surprised? Let me give you some grounds to think...

• The act is made to provide relief ONLY to a married woman in a domestic setup.
• It's one of the only laws that is entirely drafted and finalized by Lawyers, and not the legislature. This seems to me like a lock designed by a team of thiefs; and you expect that lock to be theft-proof!
• This law is also famous as being a clumsy copy of the notorious VAWA law of the US, which is under a lot of criticism already. Even otherwise this law is a direct offshoot from the US sponsorship towards breakage of Indian Family system.
• This law defines Domestic Violence as anything that the wife feels as a cruelty towards her. It might include the husband not giving her money for Kitty Party, or even he calling her step brother an idiot.
• The law provides the wife to accuse anyone in the domestic relationship, including 2 months old baby, 89 years old granny or an 8 months pregnant sister-in-law. And they'll all be required to run from pillar to post in the Indian Courts for as long as the Complainant or the Judge wants.
• The complainant under this act can ask for any amount of money from the husband as compensation. There's no limits to her imagination.
• The complainant can also ask for a "right to residence" in any house that she might have stayed with her husband, ever. In addition, she can also legally ask all the other residents in that house to evacuate it, on the pretext that she feels threatened by them.
• The Complainant can file a case under this act at any time of her life, even after 12 years of her divorce from the accused (ex-) husband.
• There is no penalty whatsoever for the complainant if the filed case is proven to be entirely false.
• The Supreme Court of India has ruled very clearly that this Act is a Clumsily Drafted Law and so it should be scrapped.
• This law is already declared as unconstitutional by the National Organization "Save Indian Family" in it's National-level Shimla Meet 2009.

With all the above points about this particular act, don't you think the law was specifically designed by the Lawyers Collective for the exact purpose to destroy the very fabric of the country?

Now that you know the background about this law, do you still think this law is being misused? I'd say not at all. The PWDVA, 2006 is actually Used properly for achieving it's exact objective. The objective to destroy India and the Indian Family System, by destroying the very workforce of the country, i.e. the Men and their families.

So when a law is being used exactly as it was designed to be used, would you still call it a misuse? I'd not.

(The author, Mithun Kumar, is an activist who fights tirelessly for men's rights and fathers' rights in India).

News Coverage

(Translated from Telugu to English)

Saakshi Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 14

Following Gandhi's path...

Non-Violence Day Celebrations in every town
Rallys against Domestic Violence

(A FULL PAGE article. First 3 reports are on activities on the theme "Stop Violence Against Women and Children", and then contrasting report).

Domestic Violence is not a gender issue

Sundarayya Vignyana Kendram, Newsline: "Domestic Violence is not a gender issue. Along with women, men and children are also victims of domestic violence", said Challa Uma, President of All India Forgotten Women and Kirshna Prasad, Representative of Save Indian Family Foundation. They spoke at a Press Conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club. "Organizations which make a big hue and cry about domestic violence against women treat domestic violence against men as something to be amused about" they criticized. They expressed concern that there are close to 15 laws in our country to address domestic violence against wives but there is not even one law to address domestic violence against husbands. They said that in order to spread awareness about how domestic violence has been commercialized and how laws that have been introduced in the name of protection have gone awry, they are observing this month as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" and conducting various events. They said that they are launching an "All India Men's Welfare Association" on the 11th of this month and an "Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association" on the 18th of this month. They said that they were going to observe 25th October as Black Day and conduct a Nationl Rally in Bangalore. They said that each and every person should make efforts in order to save the Indian family system. Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting representative, Parthasarathy and Rishtey represrentative Satish Reddy also participated in the event.

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Vaartha Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 8

October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Saifabad, October 2 Prabhaata Vaartha

On the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence, a number of NGOs have declared that they are going to conduct "Domestic Violence Awareness Month - India - 2009" throughout the month of October, all over the country.

Respresentatives of these organizations said that this year, for the first time, India is joining hands with International men's rights and fathers' rights organizations to conduct this event. Speaking at a Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday, Uma Challa (All India Forgotten Women), Krishna Prasad (Save Indian Family Foundation), Satish Reddy (Rishtey), and Parthasarathy (Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting) announced that they are launching the event today. They said that they are launching an All India Men's Welfare Association, a national level organization, on October 11, in order to provide protection to men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that, on the 18th, they are organizing a cultural program to spread awareness on the truth about domestic violence, and also launching the Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) to protect mothers-in-law from social discrimination, domestic violence, misuse of laws against them, and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be observing 25 October as Black Day and conducting a National Rally in Bangalore on the occassion of the third anniversary of the inhuman, ill-conceived Domestic Violence Act. They alleged that Indian laws against domestic violence are irrational and discriminatory and violate the provisions of the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They demanded that every accused person should be treated innocent until proven guilty in compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They said that according to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution "no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law", and expressed concern that every year, over 1 lakh innocent persons (one innocent person every 5 minutes) are arrested under IPC Section 498A, including 4,000 innocent senior citizens (one innocent elderly person every 2.5 hours) and 350 children (one child per day) without evidence or investigation.

They said that The Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “all are equal before the law, and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law", and urged the Government to treat all citizens as equals and provide equal protection under law according to Article 14 of the Indian constitution.They demanded that laws should be same for men and women.

(Right below this article is an article about violence against women).

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Surya Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 3

Domestic Violence laws violate human rights

Nampally, Major News: A number of people opined that Indian laws against domestic violence are irrational and discriminatory, and violate provisions of the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A conference, Domestic Violence Awareness Month -India - 2009, was held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club under the aegis of Save Indian Family and a number of other NGOs. On this occasion, Uma Challa - President of All India Forgotten Women, Parthasarathy - Hyderabad Co-ordinator of Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting, Krishna Prasad - Chairperson of Save Indian Family Foundation said that women have 16 laws whereas men do not have any laws, that laws should provide equal protection for men and women, and that law should be the same for everyone. They said that Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2009 is being launched on October 2 by national and international men's and parents' rights groups. On the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence, the NGOs said that they are conducting the campaign for two reasons - to spread awareness on the truth about domestic violence and Indian domestic violence laws, and to urge lawmakers and the Government to reform the present discriminatory laws, and make gender-neutral provisions for the benefit of men, women, children, families and the society.

(Right below this is an article about violence against women).

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Andhra Prabha Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 9

"We Will Observe October As Domestic Violence Awareness Month"

Hyderabad, October 2 (KNN): All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Save India Family Foundation representative, Krishna Prasad, and Children's Rights Initiative For Shared Parenting representative, Parthasarathy, said that they will be observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. They participated in a Press Conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club under the aegis of Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting. Speaking on this occassion they said that their month-long campaign will focus on educating the Indian public about how many lies have been spread on the issue of domestic violence, how domestic violence has been commercialized, and how Indian laws claiming to prevent domestic violence are actually promoting domestic violence and human rights abuses against men, women and children.

They said that along with women, men and children are also victims of domestic violence. They said that women's organizations are spreading myths about domestic violence, and that according to their propaganda, men are always the aggressors and women are always the victims. Owing to the fact that men are not given protection from domestic violence, every year, over 56,000 married men commit suicide due to emotional, economic and physical abuse. As if this is not enough, in the last four years alone, over 1,23,497 women have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, only because they were related to a man.

They said that domestic violence has become an industry thanks to women’s organizations, law enforcement machinery, legal fraternity, politicians and bureaucrats. In an effort to save the Indian family system, events will be conducted all through the month, including the launch of All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on the 11th of this month for protection of men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse, launch of Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) on the 18th of this month for protection of mothers-in-law against discrimination, domestic violence, legal harassment and other forms of abuse, cultural programs, and a National Rally in Bangalore on October 25, marking the third anniversary of the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) as BLACK DAY.

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Andhra Bhoomi Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 14

Awareness Meets On "Domestic Violence"

Nallakunta, October 2: Representatives of four NGOs have announced that they will be conducting awareness meets to enlighten the public on the issue of Domestic Violence. Speaking at a Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday, All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting Co-ordinator, Parthasarathy, Save Indian Family Foundation Co-ordinator, Krishna Prasad, Rishtey President,
Satish Reddy said that on the occasion of International Day of Non-Violence they are organizing a month-long awareness program.

They said that several organizations will be observing Black Day on the 25th of this month, in Bangalore, on the occasion of the third anniversary of introduction of the Domestic Violence Act. They said that they are conducting a National Rally against the inhuman Domestic Violence Act. They declared that they will be launching an All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on the 11th of this month for protection of men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be conducting a special cultural program on the 18th of this month to educate the public about the misuse of the Domestic Violence Act.They said that they will be doing a massive flyer campaign for a month.

(Right beside this article is an article about violence against women).

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Prajaa Sakti Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 8

Domestic Violence Law Neglects Men's Rights

Prajaa Sakti, Alwal: Challa Uma, President of All India Forgotten Women, stated that the Domestic Violence Law neglects men's rights. She spoke at the Press Conference held at the Basheerbagh Press Club on Friday. She spoke against the Domestic Violence Law, and said that the law is causing harm. She stated that men and children are also victims of domestic violence. She stated the women commit domestic violence as often as men do. She said that 26th October will be observed as Black Day. She said that they are conducting activities to spread awareness on domestic violence all through the month. Members of the organization Parthasarathy and Krishan Prasad participated in the event.

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Andhra Jyothi Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 7

Awareness Programs on Domestic Violence

Barkatpura, October 2 (Online): Representatives of four NGOs announced that they will be conducting various activities for a month to spread awareness among people about the domestic violence law. Save Indian Family Foundation Coordinator, Krishna Prasad, All India Forgotten Women President, Challa Uma, Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting Coordinator, Parthasarathy, Rishtey representative, Satish Reddy spoke at a press conference held on Friday at the Basheerbagh Press Club. They said that on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Domestic Violence Act, they will be conducting month-long public awareness programs beginning 2 October. They said that they would be observing the 25th of this month as Black Day and that several NGOs will be organizing a protest in Bangalore on that day. They said that they will be launching an All India Men's Welfare Association on the 11th of this month to protect men and boys from gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be conducting special cultural activities on the 18th of this month to help people understand the truth about domestic violence.

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Eenadu Newspaper - 3 October
Hyderabad pullout Pg 7

Awareness on Domestic Violence Laws

Basheerbagh, October 2 (Newstoday): Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting alleged that domestic violence laws are promoting violence against men and children and human rights abuses. They said that they will be conducting various activities for a month with the goal of spreading awareness among the people about domestic violence laws. They launched the campaign on Friday. Subsequently, representatives of the above organizations, Challa Uma, Parthasarathy, Krishna Prasad and Satish Reddy participated and spoke in a Press Conference organized at the Desoddharaka Bhavan. They said that they would be launching an All India Men's Welfare Association on the 11th of this month to provide protection to men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse. They said that they would be conducting a cultural program on the 18th of this month. They said that they will be launching an Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-Law Protection Association to protect mothers-in-law from social discrimination, legal terrorism and other forms of abuse. They said that they will be observing the 25th of this month as Black Day and conducting a National Dharna in Bangalore.

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News from other cities

Nagpur
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/784-2009-10-02-15-50-19.html

Chandigarh
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/782-harassed-men-kin-to-hit-streets.html

Lucknow
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/779-2009-10-02-03-24-41.html

Bangalore:
http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/772-harassed-hubbies-go-gandhian.html

Press Conference - 2 October 2009 - Hyderabad

Please click on the following link for more photos of the Press Conference:

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/challa.uma/DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonthPressConference#

Press Release - Hyderabad

Press Release

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH – INDIA - 2009

October is "Domestic Violence Awareness Month". India is observing “Domestic Violence Awareness Month" for the first time this year to make it an International event for all men’s rights and fathers’ rights groups across the world.

Four organizations in Hyderabad viz. Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting, are launching this campaign on 2 October because it is the International Day of Non-Violence, an occasion meant for disseminating the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.

Beginning today, our month-long campaign will focus on educating the Indian public about how the problem of domestic violence has, for decades, been misrepresented, how domestic violence has been commercialized, and how Indian laws claiming to prevent domestic violence are actually promoting domestic violence and human rights abuses against men, women and children. We will also urge lawmakers and the Government to make appropriate reforms in laws and policies and make gender neutral provisions to end domestic violence against men, women and children.

The truth about domestic violence

Unbiased research on domestic violence the world over shows that:

1) Domestic Violence is not a gender issue.
2) Men and children are victims too.
3) Women are just as likely as men to commit domestic violence.
4) Women initiate domestic violence just as frequently as men do.
5) Men and children are less likely to report the incident when they are abused by their wives/girlfriends and mothers respectively.
6) Women’s organizations spread myths about domestic violence (e.g. Men are always the aggressors and women are always the victims).
7) Media coverage is often biased (e.g. A young married woman committing suicide is automatically reported as dowry death, and a young married man committing suicide is attributed to financial/family problems or mysterious reasons).
8) Politicians and bureaucrats find no incentive in addressing domestic violence by women against men, children and fellow women.

Indian laws against domestic violence

Indian laws against domestic violence are irrational and discriminatory, and blatantly violate provisions of the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that “everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.”

But Indian laws against domestic violence presume that the accused is guilty until proven innocent and violate universal principles of fair trial.

• Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states that "no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law".

But every year, over 1 lakh innocent persons (one innocent person every 5 minutes) are arrested under IPC Section 498A, including 4,000 innocent senior citizens (one innocent elderly person every 2.5 hours) and 350 children (one child per day) without evidence or investigation.

• The Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “all are equal before the law, and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law". Article 14 of the Indian Constitution declares that “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”

But Indian laws against domestic violence blatantly deny protection to men against any form of domestic abuse, and every year, over 56,000 married men commit suicide due to verbal, emotional, economic and physical abuse and legal harassment.

• Indian laws against domestic violence are touted as tools for women's protection and empowerment.
But in the last four years alone, over 1,23,497 women have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, not for committing any crime under law, but only because they were related to a man.

The Domestic Violence Industry

In India, domestic violence against wives is addressed by close to 15 laws (civil and criminal) including the infamous IPC Section 498A and Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA). However, there are no laws to protect husbands, children and other family members of the husband from domestic violence by wives. The credit goes to the Domestic Violence Industry and its stakeholders (women’s organizations, law enforcement machinery, legal fraternity, politicians and bureaucrats) whose survival depends on inciting and fueling a gender war, spreading myths and false statistics about domestic violence, encouraging false allegations, breaking families, and siphoning funds in the name of women’s empowerment from National and International funding agencies.

If the problem of domestic violence is solved, would not the booming Domestic Violence Industry, which is immune to all vagaries of the economy, suddenly go bankrupt? It is no wonder that as more and more draconian and inhuman laws are passed under the guise of protection of women, we keep hearing that domestic violence against women is increasing, instead of decreasing.

Consequently, Indian taxpayers have spent lakhs to implement draconian laws and policies in the country. And the verdict is clear – these laws and policies:

 Trample on Constitutional Protections and Human Rights.
 Hurt men, women and children.
 Divert limited funds away from the real victims.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities

Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey and Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting are organizing a campaign in Hyderabad (1) to spread awareness on “The Truth About Domestic Violence and Indian Domestic Violence Laws”, and (2) to urge lawmakers and the Government to reform the present discriminatory laws, and make gender-neutral provisions for the benefit of men, women, children, families and the society.

Our month-long campaign in Hyderabad includes the following activities:

October 2 - Press Conference to mark the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

October 11 - Launch of All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) for protection of men and boys against gender discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse.

October 18 - Cultural program to spread awareness regarding the truth about domestic violence, and launch of Andhra Pradesh Mothers-in-law Protection Association (APMPA) for protection of mothers-in-law against discrimination, domestic violence, legal harassment and other forms of abuse.

October 25 – National Rally in Bangalore marking the third anniversary of the inhuman, ill-conceived Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) as BLACK DAY.

We will also be doing a massive flier campaign across the city throughout the month.

Similar activities will be conducted in other cities across the country like Bangalore, Lucknow, Chattisgarh, Nagpur and Delhi.

We request members of the print and electronic media to attend our events in large numbers and take part in the Domestic Violence Awareness campaign by providing extensive coverage for our events.

Press Invite - Hyderabad

PRESS CONFERENCE

To mark the beginning of
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

On 2 October 2009 2:00 p.m. at Basheerbagh Press Club

 Indian laws against domestic violence presume that the accused is guilty until proven innocent and violate universal principles of fair trial.

 Every year, over 1 lakh innocent persons (one innocent person every 5 minutes) are arrested under IPC Section 498A including 4,000 innocent senior citizens (one innocent elderly person every 2.5 hours) and 350 children (one child per day) without evidence or investigation.

 Indian laws against domestic violence blatantly deny protection to men against any form of domestic abuse, and every year, over 56,000 married men commit suicide due to verbal, emotional, economic and physical abuse and legal harassment.

 In the last four years alone, over 1,23,497 women have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, not for committing any crime under law, but only because they were related to a man.

• Have we gone too far with our “get-tough-on-crime” approach to curbing domestic violence?
• Have we become irrational in our approach to women's empowerment and women's rights?
• Are fundamental Constitutional rights being set aside?
• Are we now supporting violation of human rights of innocent men, women and children?

In order to address these questions, and to spread awareness about “The Truth About Domestic Violence and Indian Laws Against Domestic Violence”, we are conducting a MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN in October, in observation of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

All members of the print and electronic media are requested to lend their valuable support to our campaign by attending our Press Conference marking the beginning of this campaign on 2 October 2009, 2:00 p.m. at Basheerbagh Press Club.

Organizations in Hyderabad observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

Save Indian Family Foundation, All India Forgotten Women, Rishtey, Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting

Other organizations across India observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

Save Family Foundation, Bhavya Foundation, Gender Human Rights Society, Protect Indian Family Foundation, Pati Pariwaar Kalyaan Samiti, Save Indian Family Chattisgarh

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For more info: 9704683163, 9866173468, 9573605415, http://dvawareness-india.blogspot.com

Violence against Men – the Untold Truth

- Virag Dhulia

In continuation with my article, “Violence against Women – A perception or a Reality” this article covers the topic of Violence against Men extensively as we head into October – The Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As explained in the prequel, there are principally four categories of violence, viz.

1. Female to Male Violence.
2. Female to Female Violence
3. Male to Male Violence
4. Male to Female Violence.

As already explained in the prequel, the society refuses to accept Female to Male violence and considers Male to Male violence as entertainment. And there lies the crux of this article. Because of over-hyped and often unnecessary feminist propaganda about Domestic Violence one always thinks about Violence against Women (VAW) as the only form of prevalent violence; however, that is not the topic of this article.

We can leave that duty safely to the 3300 odd NGOs working for women, the various state and national Commissions for Women, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and the 1200 crores of annual budgets allocated to them to create awareness about women victims in the age range of 15 – 49 before their menopause and the 15 laws to protect them.

Here we will talk about the Violence that men face. First of all it is neither funny nor entertaining about the fact that men are victims of Domestic Violence because only the Wearer knows where the shoe pinches. Because the society treats it either to be funny or entertaining for male victims of domestic violence it becomes double jeopardy for them.

First, in spite of being victims they are projected as false aggressors and made to undergo cruel and unusual legal procedures merely because some woman is shouting. It would be nice to have a cursory glance at “What a DV Arrest looks like?” How here the man is tased by the police officer merely because he has been accused and does not leave him unless he admits to false charges. Numerous such cases have come up where innocent men have been tortured based on assumptions whereas in reality it was found later that the woman was the real abuser and culprit.

Who is the more abusive gender here? And who get tagged as one? Because we are always comfortable viewing women as victims and men as aggressors going by our definition of physical prowess as the parameter to benchmark Domestic Violence, we allow men to get victimized and leave them unaddressed as well. However, as explained in the prequel, it’s not the physical strength but emotional strength that defines real violence, instigates it and makes it culminate in physical violence at times.

Psychologically it’s a well known fact that women are much stronger than men emotionally because the society takes great care of a woman’s emotional needs whereas castrates men emotionally from the age of 6 and thus it is very easy for a woman to abuse a man emotionally and instigate violence. But we have a norm of letting the instigators go scot free because they are ‘victims’ whereas punishing the reactor because they are ‘aggressors’.

The alarmingly high level to which men dread emotional violence is visible from this joke – Disadvantage of marriage – Take example of Columbus. However, as the society refuses to accept this as an abuse, it is left unaddressed as well and its victims – the men are left high and dry.

This is clear discrimination against men and unacceptable. Back home, the suicide figures should tell the story very clearly. Every year, almost double the numbers of men than women are committing suicides and their rate is increasing by 6 times every year. Various men’s rights organizations under the aegis of the Save Indian Family movement have been creating awareness of the same since the last 5 years. And forget others, even those men for whom the groups are fighting find it funny.

Old alpha male judges in high courts and supreme court find it heroic to pass insensitive remarks against a man like Justice Markenday Katju of the supreme court denied divorce to man after 17 years of arduous legal struggle saying that, “Bow down before your wives, if she says look this side, look this side. If she says look that side, look that side. Even if she sounds insensible, listen to her.”

Justice R V More of Bombay High Court is anyways on a high these days. Some of his remarkable statements made in recent judgments,

“Wife calling husband names like paagal (mad), buddhoo (idiot), gadha (donkey), is not cruelty”, whereas the same is an offense in the Domestic Violence Act wherein a wife can grab a man’s hard earned money and property legally by only making allegations (whether true or false) that he name-called me. On the other hand, for a man even a civil relief like divorce to start his life afresh is not available. Is this not Violence against Men?

“A quarrelling wife is not cruel”, was another masterpiece delivered by Mr. R V More from Bombay High Court some days back. And it took him 14 years to decide that! Is this not Violence against Men?

He could have told the man in the beginning itself, so that he would have gone and committed suicide.

Judges’ thoughts are not independent, they delve in the same society in which we live and develop their thought process from the same society. This is not a one off case. It’s just that it’s reported in the media.

Above incidences clearly show the apathy that exists towards men. This is unacceptable. Unless the society acknowledges that violence against men is real, and addresses it, it has no rights to pass sermons to them the way nowadays judges are passing to men. Men are committing suicides and the society is laughing! The same society which expects men to undertake all responsibilities, risky and laborious jobs, don the role of a Protector and a Provider refuses to address their problems!

Why should men continue to be in the role of a Protector when the Protector himself is left unprotected?

Why should men continue to be in the role of a Provider when their own basic rights are not provided to them?

Everyone is uncomfortable when violence against men is talked of, because, heart-in-heart everyone knows that in reality it’s the men who are the abused lot and still left unattended to and left to fend for themselves. Just because a few disgruntled radical gender obsessed feminists have created havoc, no one really has the guts and spirits to shut their mouth, close their shops and stop all this nonsense drama going on in the name of Women Empowerment clearly tells us how truths are untold and perceptions are sold as realities.

This October, men’ rights groups will be creating month long awareness about the Domestic Violence that men face and how the current laws are completely inadequate in addressing them.

If anybody wishes to participate in the same, may do so by forwarding the below blog address to 5 of your friends.

http://dvawareness-india.blogspot.com/

Let us all participate in unfolding the untold truth of Violence against Men.

- The author, Virag Dhulia, is an activist and coordinator of Save Indian Family Foundation in Southern India, and has contributed immensely to the men's rights and fathers' rights movement in India.

DV Awareness Month Activities in India

HYDERABAD

October 2 (M.K. Gandhi's birthday and International Day of Non-Violence) - Press Conference to mark the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

October 11 - Launch of NGO for protection of men from domestic violence.

October 18 - Cultural program to spread awareness regarding the truth about domestic violence. Launch of NGO for protection of mothers-in-law.

October 25 - BLACK DAY - Hyderabad team in Bangalore to attend national rally.

ALL MONTH - Flier campaign across the city.

LUCKNOW

29 SEPTEMBER - 12pm to 5 pm

Poster Display regarding The Truth About Domestic Violence and Indian Domestic Violence Laws at Darushafa Hall opposite Vidhan Sabha (Legislature) - Lucknow.

A power point presentation.

Open forum for media and public.

Q&A session.

4pm - Press Release and announcement of "hath milao campaign".

If you want to Stop Misuse of Domestic Violence Laws, Shake Hand With Us!

5 pm - Road Show

Every Sunday during the month - road shows in a different part of the city.

ALL MONTH - Sticker campaign and display of posters at every major location in the city.

Violence against Women – A Perception or Reality?

- Virag Dhulia

“Violence Against Women (VAW)” referred to as VAW herein is a very commonly heard and most unchallenged social meme. So high is its acceptance in the society that we have 15 laws to protect women. The Government also spends Rs. 1200 crores annually to stop the violence. Most of the laws framed to prevent VAW are based on oral evidence of women. Which means only allegations are enough to punish the man – and ends of justice would be met?

There are some primary reasons for this:

1. Over sensitization of VAW in the media.
2. A belief that no woman will lie unless severely abused.
3. The fact that men are, in general, physically stronger than women.

But the foremost fact that VAW is accepted by the society is because society wants to accept VAW. And when the society accepts VAW, it also accepts “Violence from Men” referred to as VFM henceforth.

However, a quick peek into history shows us that it is the men who have donned the role of the PROTECTOR, the UNPAID BODYGUARD, the KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, and also have been expected to do so. Whenever there has been an external threat, it is the men who are supposed to be violent and save the community. And because men are expected to be violent, they are emotionally castrated since the age of 6, so that when they go out and fight they are not perplexed, flummoxed and perturbed by uncalled for emotional disturbances and weakened in their fights.

And the same men are accused of violence at homes and of domestic violence when they are unable to handle the emotional turmoil within the homes and react violently. VFM is expected from men when there is an external attack but condemned when the man does it to vent out his frustration at his inability to fight his emotional turmoil. This is unacceptable. Either the society stops expecting VFM for external attacks or accepts VFM as a gender trait of men. It cannot be selective that on one hand men are expected to risk their lives if there is an external attack and the same men are castrated when they do it inside homes or are presumed to be doing it inside homes.

In fact, because men are expected to violent outside home, it is easy for the society to accept that they are violent inside homes as well. However, perceptions are realties seldom. Had men been really that violent inside homes then the suicides by women would have been way higher than men in all age groups and all social strata – because by society’s logic a violent man outside home is also violent inside home. Actual and factual data is exactly opposite – suicides by men are way-way higher than women in all age groups and all social strata and across all social statuses.

Counter arguments to that can be,

1. It’s a man’s world.
2. More men are born than women.

The first argument has been reasonably neutralized at The Alpha Male Dominated Society. While for the second argument, suffice it to mention that suicide rates of men are increasing 6 times the rate they are born. As per latest census figures available population growth is 1.1% whereas suicide rate for men grows at 6.35%.

Data clearly mentions the rampant presence of “Violence against Men (VAM)” herein referred to as VAM. And the deepest concentration of suicides for men is in the married/separated social status which shows that “Violence from Women (VFW)” is rampant.

That means typically we have 4 categories of violence in the society:-
1. Female to Male Violence.
2. Female to Female Violence
3. Male to Male Violence
4. Male to Female Violence.

Currently only the fourth category of violence is considered addressable by the society and we have laws only for that category. However, the other three categories of violence are not even accepted by the society as forms of violence, let alone addressing it.

The very expectation of VFM because of their role of the PROTECTOR, the UNPAID BODYGUARD, the KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, etc. invalidates the first three categories. Primarily due to expectation of VFM it is prima facie rejected by the society that females can be violent – a social meme which violent females take advantage of and rampantly do violence and yet go scot free. And again, due to expectation of VFM, male to male violence is accepted as social norm.

Even it is shown in the movies with seamless ease. It is not uncommon to see the hero and villain fighting for the heroine in the movie and out to kill each other and the worst paradox is that it is a source of entertainment for the society. One man killing another man for the woman is a source of entertainment for the society!!!

Due to undue subjugation of the first three forms of violence, the fourth form got extravagantly splurged hype whereas the first three forms suffocated in austerity. And in reality of VAW being hyped into extravagant proportions given the fact that women in India have been actually over-pampered and over-protected, it remains to be questioned how justified is the society in over-concentrating on only one form of violence and ignoring the other three and worst citing the first two forms as exceptions and the third one as accepted social behavior.

It is extremely hard to believe that men – who are expected to be violent to protect the females can be violent to them especially in the circumstances that it is an accepted fact that men are physically stronger than women and VFM to perpetrate VAW can be easily accepted and addressed to by the society.

Also, the parameters used to benchmark violence are incomplete when we define violence. Physical strength is the only parameter taken into account and that is why only VAW is addressed. First two categories get disqualified because of this reason only and the third category is justified due to the same reason – quintessentially leaving its victims as not only victims of violence but also victims of social injustice, a tragedy of double jeopardy for them.

However, sociologists and psychologists have hitherto not given prominence to a major catalyst of violence and that’s the emotional strength. As already explained that because of expectation of VFM due to their PROTECTOR, UNPAID BODYGUARD and KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR role, men are emotionally castrated from the age of 6 and this is also an accepted social behavior due to centuries old hardwiring.

This emotional castration leaves men highly incapable of dealing with emotional stresses and turmoil coupled with social discouragement of men over expressing themselves works as the dealing blow to men’s emotional heath. And this emotional inability of men leads to absence of communication channel for men – a vicious circle at play. Also, it is a psychological fact that women are emotionally smarter than men.

However, a lesser known psychological fact is that in violence, physical aggression is never the antecedent; rather it’s the emotional aggression that’s the antecedent which means it’s the emotional aggression that instigates violence and culminates with physical aggression. Quintessentially it boils down to the requirement of punishing the instigator first rather than the reactor. It boils down to punishing the emotionally violent and aggressive females who instigate violence rather than the physically aggressive and violent males who react to emotional instigations. But does that happen in reality? It does not happen. The instigator is compensated and the reactor is ostracized.

I recall an incident wherein a 10 year old male child is told by his mother to escort an able bodied 30 year old friend of hers across the street – which means the 10 year old male has to PROTECT an able bodied and well maintained 30 year old female and is also expected to be confronting dangers and be violent if needed and the same male when he grows up, he is condemned for being violent. Then why was violence expected out of him when he was a small and immature kid and his psyche was developing and now when he is grown up, his violence is not accepted. This is not acceptable. Either stop expecting violence from males or accept it.

A male who is lauded for being violent to protect his sister is condemned for being violent against his wife when his wife abuses his family and this is called as Domestic Violence by the fantastic laws created to protect women from VFM which is very much expected by the society.

And in wake of the above discussion it definitely remains a point of debate whether Violence against Women is a Perception or a Reality? Frankly speaking, in my entire life till now I have not seen a single instance of violence against a woman (only read about it), but have seen innumerable instances of violence against men.

• Is it time we redefine our notions of gender based violence?
• Is it time we revisit our notions of the violent gender?
• Is it time we stop expecting males to be violent, put it other way round we stop expecting males to don the role of a protector?
• Is it time we recognize and address all forms of violence rather than concentrating on the easily perceptible form?
• Is it time we start punishing the instigator rather than the reactor?

- The author, Virag Dhulia, is an activist and coordinator of Save Indian Family Foundation in Southern India, and has contributed immensely to the men's rights and fathers' rights movement in India.

Restore Civil Rights to Domestic Violence Laws!

• Have we gone too far with our “get-tough-on-crime” approach to curbing domestic violence?
• Have we become irrational in our approach to women's empowerment and women's rights?
• Are fundamental Constitutional rights being set aside?
• Are we now supporting violation of human rights of innocent men, women and children?

Guilty until Proven Innocent?

Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that “everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.”

But...

Indian laws against domestic violence presume that the accused is guilty until proven innocent and violate universal principles of fair trial.

Mandatory Arrest?

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states that "no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law".

But...

every year, over 1 lakh innocent persons (one innocent person every 5 minutes) are arrested under IPC Section 498A including 4,000 innocent senior citizens (one innocent elderly person every 2.5 hours) and 350 children (one child per day) without evidence or investigation.

Men do not need protection?

Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “all are equal before the law, and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law".

Article 14 of the Indian Constitution declares that “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”

But...

Indian laws against domestic violence blatantly deny protection to men against any form of domestic abuse, and every year, over 56,000 married men commit suicide due to verbal, emotional, economic and physical abuse and legal harassment.

Mothers and sisters of husband not women?

Indian laws against domestic violence are touted as tools for women's protection and empowerment.

But...

in the last four years alone, over 1,23,497 women have been arrested under IPC Section 498A alone, without evidence or investigation, not for committing any crime under law, but only because they were related to a man.

The verdict is in…

Indian taxpayers have spent lakhs to implement draconian policies around the country. And the verdict is clear – these policies:

* Trample on Constitutional protections and human rights
* Hurt men, women and children
* Divert limited funds away from the real victims

It’s time to restore civil liberties, respect for victims, and common sense to our nation’s domestic violence laws.

Organizations across India observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

• Save Indian Family Foundation
• Save Family Foundation
• All India Forgotten Women
• Rishtey
• Bhavya Foundation
  
• Gender Human Rights Society
• Protect Indian Family Foundation
  
• Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting
• Pati Pariwaar Kalyaan Samiti
• Save Indian Family Chattisgarh