Expert Roundtable 2023: Key Takeaways
In March 2023, Aparajita convened its first expert roundtable to explore solutions to gender-based violence. This gathering brought together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners to discuss prevention, justice, and community mobilization.
Key Themes Discussed
1. Changing Attitudes and Norms
Experts emphasized the need to shift focus toward prevention and changing attitudes and beliefs. Key strategies discussed:
- Engaging young people through education and mass media interventions
- Shifting focus from response to prevention
- Changing attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate gender-based violence
2. Harassment Within Universities and Workspaces
The roundtable highlighted critical gaps in addressing harassment in educational and professional settings:
- Need for compulsory training in universities and workspaces
- Need for greater representation of women in leadership in organizations
- Better implementation of PoSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Act
3. Role of Media, Films, and Social Media
Experts discussed the powerful role of media in shaping attitudes:
- Role of media, films, and social media in upbringing of boys and girls
- Engagement with filmmakers and media houses
- Training journalists on gender-sensitive reporting
4. Fixing the Justice System and Redressal Mechanisms
A critical theme was improving access to justice:
- Women’s access to justice and legal aid
- Supporting survivors through the legal process
- Need for awareness and better implementation of legal frameworks
5. Community Mobilization and Women’s “Power Within”
Experts emphasized the importance of community-level change:
- Importance of community mobilization
- Enabling women’s “power within”: tapping into women’s intrinsic sense of agency, empowerment, efficacy, and confidence
- Building support networks at the grassroots level
Impact on Aparajita’s Strategic Focus
The insights from this roundtable continue to inform Aparajita’s strategic priorities. Many of the themes discussed – from prevention to community mobilization – have shaped our focus areas and workstreams.
This foundational conversation set the stage for our ongoing work to bridge the data gap and support evidence-based solutions to end gender-based violence in India.