1. "NETWORKS OF WOMEN, WOMEN'S SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
INSTITUTIONS AND NGOS"
by
Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR
Prof. & HOD, University Department of Economics,
SNDT Women’s University, Smt. Nathibai Thakersey Road, Chuchgate, Mumbai-400020
Phone-26770227®, 22031879 Ext. 243(O) Mobile-9321040048
E mail:vibhuti.np@gmail.com
• Women’s rights organizations have formed networks
that involve NGOs, policy making bodies, legal groups,
people’s organizations, citizens’ fora and professional
bodies.
• Issue specific networks exchange information, share
experiences, launch advocacy campaigns and negotiate
with the state to achieve more space for women, fight
against violence against women and for Empowerment
of Women.
• In the first National Conference of Anti Rape
Movement, 1980, the idea of network of women’s
groups was mooted. Issue-based campaign against
Mathura Rape Case judgment of the Supreme Court of
India, 1980 was successful due to network that
coordinated nationwide anti-rape movement
demanding: a. Amendments in the rape laws b. Justice
to Mathura. Concerted efforts were made to motivate
M.P.s to support the demand & raise the issue in the
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2. parliament thro’ star questions. Global Media Coverage
on the issue boosted the morale of newly formed
feminist collectives throughout the country.
• The Nation-wide anti-dowry Anti- Dowry Networks
formed in 1978 organised actions of newly formed
women’s rights groups against dowry murders, ensured
amendments in Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act
and introduced Section 498 A- unnatural death of
women within first 10 years of marriage due to physical
or mental harassment, played significant role in Family
Court Act, 1984.
• Networking by Women’s collectives has proved very
effective for highlighting the demand of Gender Just
Family Laws since 1982.
• Network initiated by YWCA was responsible for the
Supreme Court’s judgment on Mary Roy’s petition
demanding amendments in Syrian Christian Personal
law that resulted into equal property rights for
daughters among the community.
• Similar success stories are of Lata Mittal’s and her
sister’s petition demanding coparsonary rights for
Hindu daughters in ancestral property in Hindu
Succession Act and tribal women, Bhuribai’s and
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3. Dhagibai’s petition demanding land rights for tribal
women.
• At the time of Devrala Sati episode in 1987, women’s
Anti Sati Network organised Women’s Chain
surrounding parliament of India.
• As a result of women’s networks, new legislations such
as Anti-obscenity Act, 1986 and Sati Prevention Act,
1987 and Supreme Court directive for Prevention of
Sexual Harassment at Workplace were made effective.
National Perspective Plan for Women and NPPW, 1988
and Shramshakti (Report of the Committee on Self-
employment women and women in the Unorganised
Sector) are result of networking between women’s
organisations such as SEVA, WWF & Annapurna and
women’s studies scholars.
• During Nairobi Conference-End of Women’s Decade by
the UN, 1985 and Beijing Conference, 1995 women’s
networks worked toward vision documents and brought
out Women’s Charter. They also pressurized their
governments to ratify CEDAW. Collaborative work
between NGOs and legislators at Beijing Conference
was commendable.
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4. • During 1990s, CSR organised round tables for women
in decision making in which legislators, political and
social activists, academicians, administrators,
researchers and policy makes were invited to discus
pressing problems of women. These roundtables
focused on rapport building to deal with sex-selective
abortions, reforms in the family laws, population policy,
formation of NCW and 33% reservation of seats in the
local self government bodies.
• For past 35 years, networks of new women’s rights
groups providing social, economic and educational
support to women facing domestic violence have played
leading role in keeping the issue of domestic violence
alive that lead to enactment of Prevention of Domestic
Violence Act, 2005. Currently women’s networks are
coordinating campaign to get Prevention of Sexual
Harassment at Workplace Bill passed in the parliament.
• For past 15 years, every year, global network of
women’s rights organisations launch 15 days campaign
(from 25th November to 10th December) against violence
against women. Their efforts have convinced the nation
states to accept that Women’s Rights are Human
Rights.
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5. • There is not any network fighting against
advertisements, television serials and the commercial
film industries projecting women as spare-parts for sale
and also perpetuating extremely regressive and
obscurantist patriarchal values.
Currently women’s networks are highlighting
 33% Reservation of Women in the Parliament
Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace
Trafficking of women and child-prostitution that has
increased at an alarming rate.
Reproductive Rights of women
Implementation of PCPNDT Act, 2002
Implementation of Domestic Violence Act, 2005
 Gender Audit of Budgets
Women’s Right to Land and Housing
Women’s Leadership in Micro Finance and Livelihood
Finance Movement.
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