Photo Credit: Parul Aggarwal
Around 35 percent of Indian women suffer from physical violence at the hands of their partners while nearly 40 percent men and women think that it is sometimes or always ‘justifiable’ for a man to beat his wife (UN Women report on Progress of the World’s Women: In Pursuit of Justice, 2011-2012).
Domestic violence is an issue that cuts across class, race, gender, ethnic communities, education, sexual orientation, religion and any other form of diversity in the society. Women of all races are about equally vulnerable to violence by an intimate partner.
In 2008, Breakthrough launched Bell Bajao!, a national level campaign asking men and boys to join to end violence against women. www.bellbajao.org has become a peer leader in raising this issue on the Internet hosting survivor stories on the blog, celebrity endorsements, map for social change, social media engagement, training toolkits, information and community stories of change.
There are only three categories of people who can end violence against women.
1) Victims by becoming survivors and overcoming the fear and hesitation of ending the cycle of violence.
2) Men & boys by becoming agents of change among their peers & networks
3) The Community or Society by never accepting violence as a private matter, supporting those facing domestic violence, educating themselves and others about the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) and RINGING THE BELL!
Three Steps to Ringing the Bell Safely
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If for any reason you feel unsafe, do not ring the bell! Call the police and let them know what is happening.
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Once the door is opened, do not address the violence that you heard. Instead, ask a simple question like, “Can I borrow a cup of sugar?” If no one comes to the door, it’s still likely the perpetrator will be aware that you’ve heard him, and he’ll stop. If the violence continues, step away and call the police.
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If there is no bell for you to ring, then knock on the door or find something else that will help you interrupt the violence.
Breakthrough believes in the power of individual and collective contribution towards change. Own the Bell Bajao! cause to end domestic violence by donating directly to our initiatives and projects. Click here to know more.
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