Catholic groups to march fighting crime against women

January 29, 2013: The Regional Bishops’ Council of the North (RBCN) along with other Christian groups is organizing a pledge march against the increasing violence against women in the country on January 30.

The RBCN, in collaboration with Office for Women of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the Delhi archdiocese and other organizations will organize the program at Rajghat on Wednesday, the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi.

“It is our task and responsibility to make our country a safe place for 50 per cent of our population. Our institutions and organizations have a great contribution to make in this regard,” said Auxiliary Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Delhi in a press statement.

Bishop Mulakkal, who is also the RBCN secretary, praised the parishes, organizations and institutions that joined the civil society groups in their protest against crimes against women.

“Though women and girls from dalit, tribal, and minority groups continue to be the worst affected, there is a deafening silence around sexual violence/assaults perpetrated on them especially in the context of communal violence in Kandhamal, Odisha and Gujarat,” the statement said.

It called on all the parishes, educational institutions and other organizations to draw up a plan of action to instill a positive mind set in the youth.

“We strongly recommend that they take up programmes in their vicinity to create awareness on the dignity of the girl child,” said Sr. Helen Saldanha, secretary of CBCI office for women.

The Press statement concluded stating, “Let us rise up for a greater inclusion of women in decision-making positions that will make a difference to the present situation. Positive parenting and value education in our families, schools and institutions need to be given utmost importance. Inter-school/college level workshops for conscientization leading to follow up action could pave way for positive changes. The Regional Bishops’ Council of the North will leave no stone unturned to implement the enumerated gender guidelines found in the Gender Policy of the Catholic Church in our region.”