The Madras High Court Saturday launched a year-long awareness programme for “Gender sensitisation and elimination of violence against women.”.The programme, based on a similar initiative launched by the Gujarat Legal Services Authority in October this year, will train members and staff of the district judiciary in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, members of the Bar and law students, who in turn will take their knowledge and expertise to women and stakeholders across the State to sensitise them on issues of gender and create a safe and equal workspace for women.The programme’s main objective is to sensitise stakeholders and eliminate instances of violence against women and harassment of women at workplace.The programme was inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna, Madras High Court Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justices Anita Sumanth and PT Asha of the Madras High Court..Justice Nagarathna, who applauded the initiative, said she believed that one way in which there can be greater equality between men and women is “for women to have greater participation in the workforce.”The Supreme Court judge cited an incident from the Karnataka High Court from the time when she was serving as a judge there.She said that a newly recruited woman civil judge was due to give birth to her child a day before her oath taking ceremony. She asked the court registry whether the date for the oath taking ceremony could be changed and a discussion ensued among the judges of the High Court on whether she would lose her seniority if she took oath at a later stage.“I raised my voice and said she has a right to deliver the child and for that reason she couldn't lose out on her seniority. My CJ was kind enough and able to pursue other judges and ultimately, she came on the fifth day, took oath and returned back to nursing home,” Justice Nagarathna said..“These are the small things we need to attend to & this is what is meant by gender sensitisation in workplace. We have our constitutional provisions, values, Directive Principal, Fundamental rights and fundamental duties. How are we applying that in our day to day lives?” she said.Justice Nagarthna further said that greater representation of women in judiciary would “greatly improve” the overall quality of judicial decision making and the impact it has on the society..She further said that the State must ensure that it creates conditions where men and women can enjoy rights equally. The fight against gender-based violence was a “marathon and not a sprint,” and it requires sustained efforts, patience and unwavering commitment.“Let us pledge to work together to challenge the status quo and to create a world where every woman & girl can live with dignity, safety and freedom,” she said..While addressing the audience that comprised of judges of the Madras High Court, members of the Bar and judicial officers from all districts across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Chief Justice Shriram said the programme will focus on sensitisation of all stakeholders to create an equal workplace for women in TN.“The object is to change the thinking and views that some hold on gender. It will help us apprise our attitudes. This is not just another initiative on our agenda, but it reflects our deep commitment of fostering a society that values the right and safety, besides dignity of every woman in our society. Violence against women in a pervasive form of violence that affects every section of society. This programme gives us an opportunity to reflect on the gravity and urgency of the issue before us. Our aim is to imbue the younger generation with values of respect, understanding, and equality. By conducting programmes on gender sensitisation, we can create a society that respects and values women’s rights,” Chief Justice Shriram said.He further stated that the launch of the programme was also an opportunity for all the judges present there to reflect on their own views and prejudices when dealing with the other gender..“We have 38 districts in TN and two in Puducherry and the vision is to take our programme to the women there. We have identified women in four target areas. Members, staff of the district judiciary, members of the bar in those districts and taluks, students with an emphasis on those in the law colleges. They will be our catalysts, the engineers who will carry home the message. They will teach the focus groups the methods to ensure gender parity and increased participation of women in the workforce. And provide measures to prevent harassment of women at the workplace,” Justice Sumanth said.
