Special Talk on Gender-Based Violence

On May 21, 2024, the Department of Political Science at Loreto College, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), organised a special talk on “Gender-Based Violence.” Dr. Gargi Talapatra, Head of the Department of English at The Bhawanipur Education Society College, delivered the lecture.

Dr. Talapatra provided an overview of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), highlighting its various forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. She presented statistics underscoring the alarming prevalence of GBV worldwide, affecting millions of women, men, and non-binary individuals. She emphasised several root causes of GBV, such as patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes, and systemic inequalities that perpetuate discrimination and violence, and referred to the Vishaka Guidelines in her discussion.

The presentation was followed by an interactive session with students. The lecture concluded with a call to action, with Dr. Talapatra urging the attendees to engage in community education, support survivors, and advocate for policy changes to eradicate GBV. The event reinforced the urgent need for a collective effort to address and prevent gender-based violence.