Sensitization
Since October 2017, Calcutta Rescue has been working with Swayam, another non-governmental organization, to develop and implement agender-based violence (GBV) and violence prevention programme. Awareness-raising and training are the two agreed objectives. The sensitization is aimed at Calcutta Rescue employees on gender-based violence. While the training is for key personnel to provide optimal care to those affected by gender-based violence. Most of the frontline staff have now completed the training. They have learned what the key indicators are when gender-based violence is suspected. What is important here is how to deal with and communicate with those affected and the importance of empathy and non-discrimination.
Calcutta Rescue and Swayam have also launched a pilot project at the Talapark Clinic. A member of the health education team talks to the women who visit the clinic. The aim is to obtain information about the frequency of gender-based violence among female patients. Each identified victim is supported by a GBV counselor from the Calcutta Rescue team. Identified cases are also documented in the other clinics, in the street medicine programs and in the schools of Calcutta Rescue and the women are referred for support.
Counseling sessions
Counseling sessions for women affected by gender-based violence take place twice a week at the Talapark Clinic. Swayam comes to the clinic once a week in a bus and sensitizes the patients. Skits, songs and dance performances are used to raise awareness about gender-specific issues such as child marriage and domestic violence. Unequal treatment of girls and boys, etc. The GBV consultant holds a monthly session in the other clinics to raise awareness of gender-based violence among men and women. The response has been very good. Calcutta Rescue and Swayam hope to be able to use the network of street medicine programs in the longer term to carry out community-based interventions. These include workshops and awareness campaigns, surveys to quantify
gender-based violence and targeted initiatives to combat violence. There are also plans to raise the issue of gender-based violence in Calcutta Rescue schools.
Calcutta Rescue's main goal is to empower those affected by gender-based violence in a variety of ways to lead a life free of violence.
Gender-based violence refers to violence against people because of their gender. According to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, violence against women and girls includes all acts of violence that cause physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women.
In 2013, a comprehensive study found that a third of all women worldwide are raped, beaten or abused in some other way. Although this mostly affects women and girls, it should not be forgotten that boys and men are also victims of gender-based violence.