Berlin, 16th April 2013
The “Roland Berger Human Dignity Award” for 2012/13 was conferred by the President of the Bundestag Dr.Norbert Lammert, to the Indian women’s rights organisation “Jagori”; the Pakistani lawyer and women’s rights activist Dr. Asma Jahangir; and the “Afghan Women’s Network”.
Jagori, represented by their leaders Suneeta Dhar and Kalpana Viswanath, received the award for long and successful commitment to women’s rights in India. One of their current campaigns is the “Safe Delhi Campaign” for more security of women in the Indian capital. The campaign has successfully enrolled the participation of multiple stakeholders for the setting up of helplines for victims of sexual harassment and violence; training of bus drivers and conductors in dealing with sexual assault in public transport; ensuring of better urban infrastructure including street lighting; and communities better aligned to women’s safety.
Suneeta Dhar, Director of Jagori, spoke on the occasion. Her speech follows:
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Excellencies: President of the German Parliament;
Prof. Roland Berger, Board of Trustees, Awards Committee, Staff of the Roland Berger Foundation
Our esteemed sister awardees, Asma Jahangir from Pakistan, Hasina and Leeda from Afghanistan,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of Jagori, we are honoured to receive this award with gratitude and humility. This award for respecting, promoting and protecting human dignity and human rights comes at a moment in history, when the safety of women and girls from all walks of life has become a rallying point for millions across India and the world. This new upsurge resonates and affirms the work of the women’s movement globally and locally, that has over the past three decades, brought the issue of violence against women into the human rights paradigm. While affirming that women’s rights are human rights, they have continued to confront the fact that violence against women is a “manifestation of the unequal power relations”, and exists in all societies.
The award recognizes the collective work of Jagori over the last three decades and I pay tribute today to the founders, women and men colleagues, women from the communities we work with, all of who dreamt of alternatives, shaping Jagori and paving the path for young women and men to champion the cause for women’s equality, dignity and gender justice.
A few lines from our co-founder Kamla Bhasin, best reflects our philosophy:
I’m learning how to read so that I can read my own life
I’m learning how to write so that I can write my own destiny
I’m learning how to count so that I can keep an account of my own rights
Hand in hand, we shall move ahead…
Jagori has been reaching out to thousands of women in rural, tribal and urban communities in creating a new feminist consciousness and weaving their own dreams. As we would say in Hindi: ‘zindagi apni savareigein’.
Jagori affirms women’s right to freedom, autonomy and bodily integrity and to safe and inclusive spaces, free from fear and violence.
The recent incident in Delhi in December 16, 2012 catalysed the worlds’ attention to respond with stronger political, legal and institutional measures to eliminate cultures of violence. I pay tribute to the young sister who battled for her life for 13 days, inspiring a historic process. In India, this led to a path breaking report by the Justice Verma Committee and the subsequent passing of the law against sexual assault and rape.
More recently at the CSW meeting in New York led by UN Women, governments of the world adopted a global document which asserted that discrimination and violence against women and girls has no place in the 21st century. Michele Bachelet, the former Head of UN Women – partner of Jagori said – “There is no turning back.”
And indeed for Jagori, there is no turning back. Interestingly, our logo of Jagori’s twentieth year celebrations (in 2003) was No turning back!
The prize money will be used by Jagori to strengthen an integrated response to survivors of violence and create safe spaces through preventive work. This involves collaboration to transform institutions for long term change. We believe that this cannot be achieved without nurturing strong collectives of women, and ensuring an intersectional approach with perspectives from marginalized groups – dalits, tribals, LGBT, single women, migrant & trafficked women, women with disabilities and several others.
We deeply appreciate the opportunity for embarking on another creative journey and thank Prof. Berger and the Foundation for supporting us.
This is also a moment for us to acknowledge the meaningful partnerships Jagori has had with German organisations such as the BfW-EED and Misereor for the past over two decades.
Having come this far, we recognize that there are many challenges ahead of us; which can only be undertaken in solidarity with our sisters/networks across the region and globally.
The “One Billion Rising” global movement that we celebrated recently across South Asia by Sangat, signalled that the world is not willing any more to tolerate violence against women – anywhere. Not in the Congo, not in Syria, not in India, not in Europe…nowhere! This past week at the G8 meeting in London, Foreign ministers have resolved to work together to end sexual violence in combat zones.
Social attitudes, it is often argued, take generations to change. Certainly patriarchy is deeply entrenched, not just in India, but all over the world and it manifests itself in different ways. Even the mighty Berlin Wall crumbled one day. We are on the cusp of change, driven by the energy and passion of the young women and men who occupied the streets of Delhi, and the insights and wisdom of the strong women’s movement in our country.
As I accept this award on behalf of Jagori, I leave you with some lines – from one of the movement songs:
Tod Tod ke Bandhano ko, dekho bahen aati hain, Aayenge Zulm Mitayagein, Woh to Naya Zamana Layeingi!
Breaking the shackles of violence, women lead the way, bringing in a new world!
Thank you!!
