On November 16 2015, Mount Carmel College of Bangalore had an international seminar on Gender Studies take place in their auditorium. Aptly called World Court of Women against War, for Peace; It became an arena where Women in black came forward with an experiential set of testimonials, of loss, of torture, of main and most of all, of survival.
The chief guest of the day in attendance was Ms. Louisa Morgentini - a representative of the European Parliament, who declared this function to be one that celebrates Peace, Freedom and Dignity. Ms. Kamala Basu one of the many speakers said that we need to say yes to the power of love and no to the power of violence, thus stepping forward to wards achieving peace for women across the globe.
Ms. Lisa Suhej Majaz from Palestine, another speaker said a heartfelt prayer for those who will be born into a better world and expressed that there should be a certain dignity lauded to those who are forced to cross borders. Ms. Rose Duvichu from the Naga Mother's Association was emotionally overcome as she dedicated this court in memory of the lives lost to militarization.
In the break, when we students were able to briefly interact with Mr.S.P.Udayakumar, the convener of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant project. He said that he is proud of the way Women in his hometown of Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu are empowering themselves by being outright about their needs. "Our Women will be fully empowered only when they realize that they can beat up the perpetrators who want to put them down" he said as he bade us farewell.
Thus, this first day of the 3 day international seminar showed us a peek of how it held in itself the angst as well as uprising of women everywhere.
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