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Campaign to eliminate violence against women

A 16-day campaign to eliminate violence against women, focussing on domestic fights and legal rights, will be launched in India and other South Asian countries on November 25.

Organised jointly by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and Indian agencies, including the National Commission for Women, the campaign would mark the 50th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights.

"The UNIFEM is deeply concerned about gender-based violence across the world," its regional programme advisor for South Asia said in a press release.

The campaign's main objective is to influence public opinion and attitudes, policies, practices and legislation to facilitate a life free of violence for women and girl children.

In India, the campaign will run across, among others, Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Lucknow, Bangalore, Guwahati, Madurai, Dindigul and Trichy. Educational institutions, residents welfare associations, non-governmental organisations, women's groups and various clubs will be active in this campaign.

Among the major events of are: gender sensitisation workshops for police personnel from 100 police stations in Delhi on November 9 and 10, an awareness programme through posters on legal rights of women vis-à-vis the police through all police stations, the distribution of audio-cassettes of motivational songs on women's rights, and the screening of films in slums focussing on women's rights.

There would also be a march at the India Gate on December 10 to reaffirm the statement that 'women's rights are human rights.'

UNI

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