Training on CEDAW

A National- Level training programme for Dalit women Human Rights Defenders (DWHRDs) and Activists was held in New Delhi from 25th June to 27th June, 2017. The Training was designed for Dalit women leaders from Haryana. The goal of the training was to build the Capacity of Dalit Women leaders and co-ordinators to become Change Agents for Protection and Promotion of Human Rights of Dalit and Adivasi Women by using International mechanisms along with domestic procedures for the protection of dalit women rights.

The Objective was to motivate, train and empower Dalit and Adivasi Women Activists to become efficient Human Rights Defenders on CEDAW linking constitutional rights of India; Imparting knowledge on National and International Human Rights mechanisms and Developing their skills on HR monitoring, lobbying, advocating including report writing, special complaint procedures and complaint writing; Network building, Coordination and Communication among the international human rights institutions, government agencies and civil society organizations, special rapporteurs and advocacy with them. The training was attended by 18 dalit women and 3 dalit men in total from Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and UP Bundelkhand.

Pune Review Meeting and Social Media Workshop

A Strategic Review Meeting was held on 2-3 October 2017 at the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Kondanpur, Pune where 25 women team members from the States gathered to review the state and district level work done by the activists. The members shared the Strategies, limitations, successful interventions that they faces during the course of their interventions. The second day was dedicated to the a social media training session for all the activists in which the basics of why social media is important, how to use Facebook, twitter etc, how to ensure safety and privacy, the possibilities and limitations of social media and how to use social media safely etc were covered.

Wenlido Training

A Wenlido training was organised for Haryana Team members and volunteers on 22-23rd August 2017, in Kurukshetra, Haryana. 15 young dalit girls actively participated in this training. The team collaborated with The Wenlido Trainers Network- an autonomous non funded collective of Wenlido Instructors that is focused on creating safety for women and girls.

Wenlido (Women's path of strength) is a form of Psycho Physical self defense based on feminist principles, that uses not only the body but focuses on creating overall safety including in intimate relationships. It is based on women's experiences of violence and uses the strength that women have to resist violence. In the workshops not only did our women learn to protect themselves, but also how to recognize potentially dangerous situations early on, how to respond verbally effectively when harassed, become aware of personal boundaries, solve problems together on how to stay safe and get out of (inner) victim mode. Role-plays, discussions, breath as a tool, and exercises are used as well as learning practical self-defense techniques to survive violent, physical attacks were explored in the training.