By Namrata Goswami | Programme Manager-FST
Lalthanzami’s Safe Home which was successfully reopened in the month of December, with the support received from FSTs participation in the Global Giving September Challenge, provided shelter and support to four victims of domestic violence. These victims are from the nearby villages. One of these victims is a gang rape survivor. She has currently been provided shelter at the Safe Home. Lalthanzami and her team is directing their efforts in pressurising the legal system and punish her convict. The other three sheltered at the home have been abused by their husband and later abandoned. They are currently undergoing counseling and soon will be united with those who love and care for them.
Lalthanzami says while a high percentage of domestic violence perpetrated by husbands against wives are physical, however all categories of domestic violence - economic, emotional, sexual and others are inter-related. With information from outreach workers and fellow women in the community, Lalthanzami visited the homes of these victims and spoke with them and counseled them to raise their voice against the very act of violence that they have faced and if they felt the need, they were suggested to move in to the safe Home for an abuse free shelter. Besides rescue and shelter provided, under the safe home banner, in the month of January 2015, friends and well wishers organized one community meeting and discussion around the issues and concerns of Domestic Violence against Women (DVAW). In the coming month they plan to conduct a meeting and awareness campaign with the Church Women around (DVAW).
One of the major learning with issues related to (DVAW) has been the rigid and conservative patriarchal society which forces many incidents and cases of domestic violence to go unreported. Many women just do not report cases of physical abuse by their husbands for not being aware of the existence of a law against domestic violence. Hence awareness generation and dissemination of information is crucial for a way out.
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