Centre for Enquiry Into Health and Allied Themes
Media Workshop on Safe Abortion, Every Woman’s Right
The Campaign for Safe Abortion and CommonHealth with support from CEHAT, CHSJ and SAHAJ working in the field of health thought it would be a good idea to share their achievements and challenges with the media with a special focus on their work on safe and legal abortion.
Though the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was passed in India in 1971, making abortion legal in our country, access to safe and legal abortions still remains a distant cry for most women. The maternal morbidity and mortality rate due to unsafe and illegal abortions is still quite high. There are multiple reasons for inaccessibility to safe and legal abortions ranging from social, economic, ethical to those based on downright discriminatory politics. There being a taboo on subjects such as abortion there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about it which only make matters worse. As if this was not enough the phenomenon of sex selective abortions and the law banning all abortions performed after a sex determination test only complicated matters further as it amounted to a lot of confusion about the legality of abortion.
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E-bulletin
The Library and Documentation Unit of CEHAT has initiated a Quarterly e-bulletin with the aim to disseminate information to wider audiences ,this e-bulletin provides updates on the current resources that are added to the collection along with specific information about work done by CEHAT in specific area along with links to various past and present studies and resources available at CEHAT and other related links.Download e-bulletin(Feb-April09)
Launch of Library Online Catalogue
CEHAT is happy to announce the launch of Library Online Catalogue which includes collection of SATHI and CSER other two centres of Anusandhan Trust. The new system (SLIM 21) will ensure that the Library and the Documentation Unit offers effective and efficient information and services to its users. The users now have access to wide library collection of books, publications, reference books, Periodicals, Thesis and Dissertations, Documentary and Films, Data Cd's, Posters, Reprints including access to full text articles, Organisational Repositories (reports and articles) and other resource material available in the unit .
The catalogue can be searched in simple and advanced mode using Boolean Operators. Advanced searches can be made including fields like Author, Subject, Title, Year, Publisher, among others. The Web OPAC’s also provide facilities like personalized on screen display, save options, etc.Read More...
National Conference on Emerging Health Care Models: Engaging the Private Health Sector
CEHAT organized a two day Conference ‘Emerging Health Care Models: Engaging the Private Health Sector’ on 25th and 26th September 2009.
India has witnessed an increased number of Public Private Partnership initiatives in the health sector, each of them with their unique setting, approaches and issues. The Conference was rolled out with the basic aim to create a forum for the encouraging the display of debate and discourse in the field of PPP in health.
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Recognizing Violence against Women as a Health Issue: A Progressive Step by the Maharashtra Nursing Council
The 4th National Course on Violence against women and role of health care providers (HCP's), culminated on 22nd September with a valedictory session held at the J.P Naik Bhavan, Kalina University, Mumbai. The Chief Guest for the valedictory function was Mr. Ramling Mali, President of the Maharashtra Nursing Council (MNC). Other guests present were Dr.Potdar, Deputy Director, Nursing, Director Health Services (DHS) and Dr. Neelam Bansode, Asstt. Director, Nursing, DHS, Govt. of Maharashtra. This course is conducted by the Center for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) and is designed to provide participants with an understanding on Violence Against Women (VAW) as a health and human rights issue and train them to respond to specific needs of victims of violence.
Training on Sexual Violence Against Women
CEHAT was invited for a training session organized by Dr. Indu Sahani, Sheriff of Mumbai. The training session is a part of the helpline ‘Dial 1298’ started by Sheriff. Dial 1298 is a Woman’s Helpline active in Mumbai which helps women in distress; gets in touch with the right NGO which can help them depending on the problem or issue. In the training sessions that are organised various NGOs come together to share their experiences, difficulties and expertise to become more efficient.Sangeeta Rege from CEHAT took a training on “Sexual Violence Against Women”. About 80 members were present at this training. Press Coverage
State Level Convention on Health Sector Budget in Orissa: Demands for a Change
The public health scenario in Orissa is facing significant challenges of poor infrastructure, lack of human resources and acute government apathy. As a result, the poor and the marginalized sections of our society are going through difficult phases of pain and suffering. The process of neoliberal onslaught has aggravated this situation in last two decades. The latest Economic Survey highlighted some of the glaring deficits in the health sector situation in the State including severe incidences of infant & maternal mortality and malaria deaths in the state. Even common diseases like diarrhea and cholera take a tool of innocent lives every year. Under the influence of neoliberal policies, there has been a major rise in the number of private health facilities that are typically out of the reach of the masses. The new found dependence on the Centrally Sponsored Schemes has also marred the State run machinery in making provisions for the poor.
On 10th June the hundreds of Civil Society Groups (CSOs) from across the state came together to discuss the problems related to health sector in Orissa and prepared a Charter of Demands on Health Sector Budget for advocacy with the state government in the backdrop of the ongoing Budget Session in the State Assembly.
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Statement on the recent case of Sexual Assault
Following the spate of news reports regarding the case of sexual assault, we as organizations and individuals working on issues of women’s rights and violence against women, feel that there is a need to comment on the role of that various agencies must play in order that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to the book. In this light, we would like to point out the following:
1. Role of the Hospital: There have been questions raised by the police and media about whether evidence can be collected without an FIR. In fact, the police even insisted on taking the victim to Nagpada Police Hospital for re-examination (which the hospital rightly refused) despite the fact that Rajawadi Hospital had already collected evidence. As per the judgment of the Supreme Court in State of Karnataka v Manjanna (2000) , a requisition for examination from an Investigating Officer is not required. A victim can go directly to a hospital, get herself examined and treated, and subsequently decide on legal action.
2. Delay in filing an FIR: Another issue raised has been around the delayed reporting of the case, because the victim reported to Rajawadi hospital for treatment and evidence collection on the night of Sunday, 11th April but registered an FIR only on Tuesday 13th April. It is ridiculous for defense lawyers to question the delay in reporting of the case to the police. Victims may need time to recover from the immediate trauma caused by sexual assault before lodging a police complaint. At the same time, forensic evidence depletes with the passage of time; therefore it is essential to collect this evidence, even if the woman has not yet decided whether she wants to pursue a legal case.
3. Limitations of forensic and medical evidence: It is important to keep in mind that although medical evidence plays a crucial role in providing justice to victims of sexual assault, it has its limitations. As the doctors at Rajawadi hospital have already clarified, the victim had washed herself after the incident, which could have led to loss of evidence. Also, if the accused had used a condom while having intercourse with the woman (as rapists have been known to do), there would be no evidence of semen on her. There might also be no external injuries because the woman was unconscious when sexually assaulted. It is a myth that women who have been sexually assaulted will show obvious signs of injury. Only about a third of sexual assault victims show physical injuries . Under such circumstances when medical evidence may be difficult to come by, circumstantial evidence and the victim’s own testimony takes on prime importance.
4. Examination of the accused: For proving a charge of Rape with the aid of medical evidence, it is essential to corroborate physical and material evidence found on the victim with that of the accused and vice versa. Unfortunately in most cases, these examinations are done by different doctors / hospitals (as was seen in this case as well) and the much required corroboration of evidence cannot be done immediately. As a result the crucial corroborated evidence which would help in the course of the investigation of the case is delayed/lost. If the existing system is modified and if same doctor or at least hospital does both victim and accused medical examination, much needed corroboration of crucial medical evidence can be done as practiced in western countries. Thus Policy makers/ Investigating authorities to update themselves otherwise it would hinder Justice.
5. Role of the Media: In such a scenario, responsible and sensitive reporting by the media is imperative. There has been a lot of uproar, and rightly so, regarding the failure of the media to protect the victim’s identity. The media has also indulged in victim-blaming and has been raking up past history of the woman which has no bearing whatsoever on the case. This amounts to character assassination and inflicts a great deal of secondary trauma on a woman who has already been traumatized. A Supreme Court ruling clearly states that past sexual history has no bearing on the current complaint of sexual assault. Prejudiced and insensitive reporting discourages women from reporting a crime such as this that is already under-reported. The press wields a lot of power, owing to its wide reach. But through irresponsible reporting such as this, it silences even those who have the courage to speak out.
6. Amendment of Section 375 of IPC: Going beyond this case, it is also important to note the larger problems with the way sexual assault is defined in Indian law. Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code restricts its definition to peno-vaginal intercourse and ignores all other forms of sexual abuse. Other acts of sexual assault such as with foreign objects, oral and anal penetration do not, currently, come under the purview of this law. It is high time that these acts of forceful sex be included in the definition as well.
Endorsed by Forum Against Oppression of Women, Women’s Center, Awaaz-e-Niswaan, Akshara and CEHAT. Women's groups speak up for TISS gang rape victim
International Women’s Day Show at Dilaasa
The International Women’s Day Celebration at Dilaasa was held on 13th March 2009 at the K.B.Bhabha Hospital, Bandra. Dilaasa and CEHAT staff staged a puppet show for women patients and clients of Dilaasa. In the form of a story, the show covered several issues. One of the acts was around the right to accessing an abortion without husband’s consent, as women patients are often asked to get the husband’s signature when they seek abortion. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and women’s right to residence under this Act was highlighted through the show as well. This was followed by a discussion around the same issues.
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Dilaasa at Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Hospital(M.Y.),Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Dilaasa the hospital based Crisis Centre is now opened at the M.Y. Hospital, Indore which is a joint venture of CEHAT and M.Y.Hospital,Indore was formally inaugurated by MGM Medical College Dean Dr. Saraswat on 4th February,Thursday at 11.30 a.m. The centre will screen, counsel, treat and help women suffering from Domestic Violence. Two trained counsellors are available at the centre. The centre have been active for past nine months on a pilot basis and about 66 cases of Domestic violence have already approached the centre for information. A training session based on woman victims of Domestic violence and role of health care providers was conducted immediately after the inauguration ceremony.
News Clippings
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Paper presented at the International Conference on Gender-based Violence and Reproductive Health on 18th February 2009.
On 18th February 2009, Sangeeta Rege (SRO) made a presentation entitled ‘Implementation of Protocols to deal with Sexual Assault - Experiences from the field' at the organized by the National Institute of Research on Reproductive Health and the UNFPA. She presented CEHAT’s experience of implementing the Sexual Assault and Forensic Evidence Kit (SAFE kit) at two hospitals in Mumbai and highlighted the fact that the introduction of protocols ensures meticulous collection of medico-legal evidence; however it does not substantially change the manner in which victims of gender-based violence are treated by the health system. This requires development of a more comprehensive response, which must include building perspective of health professionals on the issue of violence, modifying procedures related to handling of victims and provision of holistic care, in addition to introduction of protocols. view the Presentation
CEHAT Celebrates its 15th Anniversary (1994-2009)
On 1st April 2009, Cehat celebrated its 15th birthday. It was an occasion of celebration and true to the spirit it was a grand one. About 50 people came together at BMC Maternity Home, Versova. The entire staff of Cehat, Pehel and CSER was present. But what was surprising and heart warming to see was the large number of training cell members from Kurla Bhabha, Rajawadi and Cooper hospitals. They had to take leave for the day to be present for the function. After a round of introductions and lunch of Biryani and Gajar Halwa, everybody watched the movie, ‘Ramchand Pakistani’. The movie is based on the story of a father and son living in Pakistan, who by mistake crosses the line of control and come to India. On suspicion of being spies or terrorist they are detained and following a series of events are finally freed and allowed to go back to their home in Pakistan. The movie was very touching and after the movie there was a discussion on the issue of ‘Illegal Detention’. It was a coincidence that this topic was brought out, because on 3rd April at the Press Club of India a meeting was organized for the release of Dr. Binayak Sen, another victim of illegal detention. Padma, Coordinator of Cehat gave a brief history of Dr. Sen’s work and also urged to all the people present to attend the same
Health and Human Rights Course
The fifth Health and Human Rights course was organised from 27th Jan to 8th Feb at Methodist Home, Mumbai. The participants were from all over India and there was a good mix of professionals, researchers and Students. The course was very well received by the participants who were especially appreciative of the field visits to Dilaasa-Crisis Intervention Centre and Thane Prison. Read More...
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