Workshop on building perspective and skill-development on response to VAW and children for POs and DSWs

CEHAT carried out a workshop on building perspective and skill-development on the response to violence against women and children through a survivor-centric approach on January 8-10, 2018 at Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The participants consisted of 25 protection officers with upto 10 years of experience from various districts, one counsellor appointed at the OSC (Kanchipuram District) and 7 District Social Welfare Officers. The Social Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu showed its commitment to the issue of VAW and children by deputing senior officers who participated in the 3 day workshop. The purpose of holding the first round of training with this group was to ensure that the state response is sensitive, since they are major stakeholders. The sessions were facilitated by Mrudula Sawant, senior counsellor at Dilaasa, Adv. Ujwala Kadrekar and Aarthi Chandrasekhar from CEHAT.

The session on concept-building brought on discussion to dispel the myth around women as perpetrators or instigators of violence. The ‘Power Walk’ activity for identifying privilege initiated discussion on the social context of survivors of violence. Participants identified different scenarios that would require different strategies during counselling. Through the discussion, it was learnt that Tamil Nadu Collector’s Office offers certificate of desertion to women based on which they are given priority in employment.

The feminist movement was traced through an interactive discussion where participants identified local leaders who had advocated equality of men and women through the pre and post-independence era, culminating in the current improved position of women.

Day two began with a recapitulation of the sessions of the previous day by the participants. During the session on forms and consequences of violence, examples of forms of violence were elicited from participants. Case studies were used to enrich the discussion. The participants were asked to work in groups to role play a challenging case they had worked on, to present application of skills that were taken up so far. After three group presentations and feedback, the next three groups were given the opportunity to rework the role play based on feedback offered so far.

The dynamics of sexual violence were discussed by sharing myths and facts relating to the topic, via evidence collected by CEHAT and other sources. As POs and DSWs, they were encouraged to understand the dynamics, scope and limitations of medical evidence and engage with HCPs as required.

The session on pertaining laws began with an understanding of the role and challenges of POs and DSWs. Their primary challenges were filing FIRs regarding CMRA, senior citizens, bringing in the respondent under the Dowry Prohibition Act, etc.

Having understood the practical reality, participants were taken through the laws, enabling them to look at these in totality and not in isolation. DSWs were informed of their role as Dowry Prohibition Officers.

POs were encouraged not to conduct mediation as this is not their role under the law. They were asked not to summon the respondent to their office, as this would be presented by the respondent as prejudice. If directed by the court to conduct mediation, the magistrate must be informed that the service provider must provide counselling and further referral must be requested accordingly.

The Joint Director appreciated the participants for their involved participation and thanked the resource persons for the interactive, engaging sessions. In their feedback, participants said they found the Power Walk especially enlightening in understanding the complexities and gaps in accessing resources. They also understood the importance of the link between violence and health. Participants were appreciative of the interaction and participatory methodology used by the resource persons. They were given certificates of participation. SRCW was encouraged to document case studies as examples to be shared with other states too.