Stop Violence Against Women in South Asia

Recently, the Maitri Network, a collective of grassroot women's organisations working towards the elimination of violence against women and girls, launched its campaign on the theme of Prevention of Child Marriage and Educating girls . The campaign reached over 3000 people and engaged various stakeholders in 5 states. The Maitri groups together with other grassroot women's organisations, doctors, teachers, school children, nursery workers and social activists, worked to spread the message and highlight the negative effects of child marriage on girls and the community as a whole . This was achieved through street plays, film screenings, rallies, poster making competitions, training workshops and consultations with government officials, and candle light marches among others. A coalition against child marriage was formed in the state of Maharashtra, and partners in the other states submitted memorandums, issued press releases and took to the courts demanding the effective enforcement of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act
A number of girl child-brides came forward to share their plight and raise awareness on the issue. One of the Matri partners in Madhya is undertaking the ‘Dignity March’ as an extension of the campaign and is travelling across India for two months with survivors and activists creating awareness on violence against women and focusing especially on the issue of child sexual abuse, which is among other things linked to the practice of child marraige.