Member Project - Declare Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWGs) a National Crisis in India, Rianna Ramesar

Goals

Write a thoroughly researched, fact-based, informative, and persuasive but brief open letter addressed
to the Government of India, demanding that they declare violence against women and girls (VAWGs)
a “national disaster”. This is a term that the Indian government has used to classify nation-wide
natural disasters, such as pollution, the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and poor water quality. VAWGs
is equally, if not more detrimental and should be classified accordingly.
Our main goal is to spread awareness internationally, educate the public, and encourage the
Government of India to take action by declaring VAWGs a national disaster.

Steps

1. I will create a rough outline/draft for the letter in a shared Google Doc. All project participants will be able to access this document; this is where the actual letter will be written. Links to examples of open-letters will also be provided here.
2. We will start by conducting preliminary research regarding VAWGs in India. Sources will consist of reliable internet sites, journals, and articles, along with physical books, if applicable.
3. We will also cite 2-3 specific cases/examples of VAWGs and femicides that have recently occurred in the country.
4. The main ask of the letter, which is that the Government of India declare VAWGs a national disaster, will be supported by the above-noted research and specific cases/examples.
5. The final copy of the letter will be posted and distributed via change.org.
6. Once the letter is complete, we will revise it and send it out to key stakeholders for signature. These can include women’s non-profits, organizations, associations, and other NGOs that support the objective. We will also send it out to relevant government organizations and prominent individuals.
7. We will also ask that the letter be published on the BPW Canada and International Sites. The members who have participated in the project but are from federations outside Canada may request that this letter be posted to their federation website.
8. I will also try to translate the letter into different languages. These will most likely be: French, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, and Arabic.forms, networking with BPW Federations, Clubs, Tasks Forces, etc, in the 5 Regional Areas of IBPW. Facebook. Flyers, etc.

Personal contact

> Mail

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Open letter to the government of India