Third Annual Symposium (Adhiveshan)

Pandharpur– Maharashtra: 27th - 28th December 2013

The two days Annual Symposium was held on 27th – 28th, December 2013 at Pandharpur  (Maharashtra) and was hosted by Astitva Trust, with support from CHSJ and UNFPA. Around 350 people including heads of partner organizations, Facilitators, Mentors men’s group members, trained community volunteers (Animators) along with their family members from five partner organisation and CHSJ staff participated.

The main objective of the symposium was to bringing together all the Animators and group members for developing rapport and sharing experiences, learning and challenges and to strengthen a sense of belongingness and mutual support. This symposium was a platform for capacity building and enhancing better understanding on various issues related to gender equality for the animators and group members to learn from collective wisdom. This platform also provided an opportunity to partner organizations, facilitators, mentors, CHSJ and UNFPA team to interact and learn from each other.

Social activists from other organisations working on similar issues and activists associated with Forum to Engage Men (FEM) were also participated. The symposium was started with OBR rally by the participants and the plenary sessions were conducted on the following issues: 

·         Violence against women
·         Women’s participation in decision making
·         Men’s involvement in women’s health (especially reproductive health)
·         Men’s involvement in parenting and partner responsibilities
·         Women’s participation in gram panchayat