Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Discrimination and violence against women in India were the second issue discussed at the national symposium organised in October by the Commission for Theology and Doctrine of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India-Latin Rite (CCBI-LR). The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the application of the social doctrine of the Church in today's world. On 31 October, AsiaNews published the first part of the report, centred on the problem of poverty in the Asian country.
A country where women are victims of discrimination & violence
Women comprise 48 per cent of India's population. On the one hand, women are worshipped as goddesses - Rani, Lakshmi, devi etc - or romanticized as the ideal woman, mothers, daughters, wives and sisters. At the same time, they are the victims of various forms of discrimination and violence. Every day brings with it horrifying instances of violence against women. Sexual exploitation, rape, women, honour killings, domestic violence, dowry deaths, acid throwing etc. are becoming routine in our country; and all these are direct offences against human dignity.
Often, women do not have ownership of their own power, resources and energies. It is controlled, managed and dominated by forces outside her, like men in her family, the community and society at large. She is made dependent on others; her power is taken away from her. The woman is not considered as an earning member of the family. She earns but has no right to own. As more women enter public spaces - for education or work or access to services or leisure - there are more reports of violence against them.
A reality often hidden is the violence that takes place within the home and the family. Statistics show that 70% of violence to women occurs in the home or by people known to them. Incest is a violence that affects a child right through life if a process of healing not been initiated. Marital rape is the violence of forced sexual relations that husbands have thus far claimed as their conjugal right.
The very first chapter of the Bible (Gen, 1: 27) tells us that human beings were created in the image of God, male and female he created them. Pope John Paul II, in his letter Mulieris Dignitatem no. 6 explains, "the human race which takes its origin from the calling into existence of man and woman, crowns the whole work of creation; both man and woman are human being to an equal degree. Both are created in God's image". The dignity and vocation of women has been a subject of serious reflection in the Church at large. In the Indian Church, systematic efforts have been made to put structures and systems in place to empower woman and give her back the dignity that is hers. In 2010, the CBCI Gender Policy was passed.
Yet, still much remains to be done. We, the members of the Symposium stand in solidarity with our girl children and women, and we pledge to do everything possible to empower them and to keep them safe and secure.