Domestic Violence Act to be discussed at Social Forum

New Delhi, Nov 5: The recently enforced Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which has generated a lot of debate about it's implementation mechanism, effectiveness and possibility of misuse'' would be discussed in detail during the five-day long Indian Social Forum (ISF) beginning November 9.

This is significant in view of the lack of infrastructure for implementing the law, especially absence of designated Protection Officers and lack of awareness among the both the victims and the authorities meant to implement it.

Though, Minister of State for Women and Children Renuka Chowdhary has described the new law a major achievement for the government, a section of people, especially men, have apprehended that the provisions of the law could be misused by their estranged spouses or other female family members.

The law is meant to empower women facing domestic violence be it physical, mental or emotional at the hands of their husbands, live-in-parters and even brothers or in-laws.

The Indian Social Forum is also unique as only women activists and social workers would address the plenary session emphasising that while men leaders mostly focus on economic development, the former give due importance to issues which affects lives of the common men including education, water, food and shelter.

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, Winner of alternative nobel prize Ruth Manorama and All India Democratic Women's Association leader Subhashini Ali would address the Forum while Magsaysay Award Winner and crusader for the Right to Information Aruna Roy would grace the valedictory session.

The Forum, in which about 50,000 people from India and abroad would participate, would focus on 'Building Another World: Visions for the Future' under the aegis of the India Social Forum. It would provide an open space for diverse movements, groups, organisations to come together under the broad slogan, 'Another World is Possible.

Let us Build it.

Community leaders and NGOs from South Asian countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Palestine, African nations, Latin America and Europe would also participate to exhibit solidarity among people and organisations of different regions and continents. The event, organised by the World Social Forum- India, is aimed to further advance the movement against neo-liberal globalisation, militarisation, sectarian politics, caste and patriarchy to build solidarity and alliance and present alternatives for a better world.

The ISF would express the South-South solidarity between Asia and Africa and peoples solutions to various problems faced by the world. It would provide an opporunity to the peoples movement to converge at one platform and try to evolve solutions to problems like terrorism, militarism, neo-colonialism, casteism, communalism and provide health, water, land and education to all people.

ISF is the third event being organised by the Forum- which consists of more than 200 organisations, after the Asian Social Forum in Hyderabad and World Social Forum in Mumbai in 2004.

The timing of ISF is crucial as both the WSF process and neo-liber globalisation, war and militarisation have gained strength.

There would be over 500 conferences, seminars, panel discussion and public meetings would be held during the five day assemsbly of 50,000 people. Youth Social Forum and Children Social Forum would highlight the concerns and aspirations of the youth of the region.

Cultural troups from South Asia and Africa would perform alongwith folk artists, community singers, street theatre groups and others from all over India. Issues relating to North East would be highlighted, the impact of newly enacted domestic violence act would be deliberated and many marches, rallies, films, songs, dances and plays would be enacted during the ISF.

UNI