The document discusses how pandemics like COVID-19 can exacerbate existing inequalities and discrimination faced by marginalized groups like women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people. It notes increases during the pandemic in gender-based violence, depression, inflation, recession, unemployment, uncertainty, deaths, and displacement. Specific examples provided include the National Commission for Women in India receiving 315 domestic violence complaints in April during lockdown, and a woman calling a helpline number from a ration shop to seek help from abuse by her husband who lost his job and drinks. The document advocates for ending the silence on gender violence and preventing its increase during crises through consideration of vulnerabilities, as well as through Prajnya's annual 16 Days Campaign

1. Pandemics often exacerbate existing inequalities for
women and girls, as well as discrimination of other
marginalized groups including LGBTQ+ people…
– International Planned Parenthood Federation.

2. and
gender-based violence
Depression
Inflation
Recession
Unemployment
Uncertainty
Deaths
With COVID-19,
we are witnessing a rise in …
Displacement

3. Lockdown: NCW receives 315 domestic
violence complaints in April

4. …With almost 57% of the women in India not having access to phones, their
options for registering complaints under the lockdown are now limited.”
“A girl being physically abused to get married and a man seeking protection for her
sister being beaten at her in-laws home …
… the lockdown has locked the abuser and the victim together.”

5. “I’m calling you from the ration shop as I’m
scared to talk from home. My husband lost
his factory job a month ago and is always
in the house. He beats me in front of the
kids, doesn’t help around [the house] and
flings the liquor bottle at me if I try to
reason things with him. I’m trapped in my
own house. Please help!” Photo credit: BCCL

6. This is not the first time we are reading
these headlines and it won’t be the last.
Across the globe, thousands live this story
every day.
They lived it before COVID-19 and
they will live it after COVID-19…
…unless we
END THE SILENCE!

7. Gender discrimination begins at conception
and continues through the lifetime.
We must anticipate the consequences of
children losing parents to the virus and being
open to trafficking, exploitation and forced
marriage. We know this and can prevent it
now.”Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan,
Managing Trustee, Prajnya
“ALL forms of gender-based violence increase
in a crisis. When we lockdown, we must
consider the vulnerability of children, women
and gender minorities to violence and abuse.

8. Violence against women isn’t a private concern.
It affects every single one of us at every stage of life.
Every year, Prajnya organises the 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.
Why?
To raise awareness of the different ways in
which women in particular are vulnerable
to violence, at home, at their place of
work, on campuses and in public spaces.
When?
25 November to 10 December
Where?
At multiple locations across Chennai
Our Goal
To Break
the
Silence on
Gender
Violence

9. Our Campaign Canvas Includes
Partnering with Chennai Police to discuss
digital security issues.
Groped? Pinched? Violated?
Crafting a visual protest against sexual
harassment.
Seminars | Trainings | Workshops Rallies| Safety Audits |Public Forums
Theatre| Poetry| Music ‘Chennai Men Say NO! to Violence
against Women’ video series

10. About Us
Prajnya is a Chennai-based non-profit working in the areas of gender equality
and peace education since 2007.
Gender Equality
Resource Centre
Publications
16 Days Campaign Against
Gender Violence
Workplace sexual
harassment trainings for
corporates
Peace Education
Teacher Trainings
Citizenship Education
School Activities
This is a snapshot of our
activities. To know more about
our work, visit www.prajnya.in.

11. Why should you care?

12. Because

13. Support the 2020 Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against
Gender Violence
http://prajnya.in/give
Background music credit: Peder B. Helland - Bright Future
By donating, you let us know that you stand for
a gender violence free world.
And that you value our work.