TWA to organize a symposium on Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile

Brief introduction to the Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile Project- 2013-2014.

 

Beginning last year (2013), the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) carried out a special year-long project titled ‘The Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile (LETWIE).’ The project received financial backing from KIOS (Finnish foundation for human rights). The sole aim of the project is to enable the social status of Tibetan women in exile to match the significance and vigor underlying the tenets and maxim of Tibetan democracy and human rights. It is also aimed to ensure that the exiled Tibetan population achieves a gender equal and healthy environment wherein women are protected against any form of discrimination, risk and violence.

 

With this undertaking, TWA reached out to Tibetan women across India and undertook an intensive education and awareness raising campaign, imparted training on topics such as; gender sensitization, combating gendered violence and awareness on the Indian laws protecting Tibetan women in India. The LETWIE-Action Team also engaged in a massive field-survey that had over 500 women fill out a questionnaire and an in-depth oral interview, the results of which are being assessed now.

 

An important component of the LETWIE project is the two-day symposium: a gathering of legal experts, women activists, grassroots leaders, stakeholders, representatives of civil society and the media. The gathering will discuss the gender status and social of Tibetan women in exile India based on the findings of the field research and survey carried out by LETWIE team across India. It will also engage in a dialogue to devise social programs and legal measures to combat the discrimination and violence facing women, while seeking to create a gender equal society and achieve social empowerment for Tibetan women exile.

 

The symposium will be attended by 50 people from different sections of the society and will be held on February 3 and 4 of 2014 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

 

Symposium

 

Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile

 

February 3 and 4, 2014

India International Centre

New Delhi

 

Organized by Tibetan Women’s Association

Detailed Program Schedule

 

Day One, Monday, February 3

 

9:30-10:30 am:

Opening Ceremony

 

Chief Guests

• Mr. J.M. Mukhi, Barrister & Advocate at Supreme Court of India, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Strategic measures to ensure the legal protection of Tibetan Women in exile India.’

 

• Mr. Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Importance of understanding the Indian legal system for Tibetans living in India.’

 

• Ms. Kamla Bhasin, Feminist Activist and Gender Trainer in South Asia, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Understanding the Quest for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India.’

 

Welcome note by TWA President

Thank you note by TWA General Secretary

MC—Dhardon Sharling

 

10:30 – 11 am: Tea Break

 

11 am – 01 pm :  Presentation and Discussion on Social and Legal issues facing Tibetan Women in Exile.

 

11-12 noon:

Interpretation of Quantitative Survey Findings

 

Presentation by: Tsering Choedon, Advocate and Project Coordinator, Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile.

12-01 pm:

Large Group Discussion: on the Social and Legal Issues presented in the Findings.

 

Moderator: Tsering Choedon

 

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch Break

 

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm:

 

Plenary Session One

 

Dialogue Initiators

 

• Ms. Jasmeen Patheja, Artist, Activist, Feminist, will speak on the topic:

‘Challenging Attitudinal Differences Towards Sexual Harassment against Women in India.’

 

• Ms. Karuna Nundy, Advocate at Supreme Court of India, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Women Security and Legal Safeguards in Indian Law and International Law.’

 

• Dr. Ananya Vajpeyi, Historian and Professor, will speak on the topic:

‘How Improving Rights Awareness and Legal Education Strengthens Women’s Intellectual Growth in the Society.’

 

Dialogue Chair, Dhardon Sharling, Creative Head, Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile.

 

 Followed by Question and Answer Session

 

4:00-4:15 pm : Tea Break

4:15-4:45 pm:

 

Workshop Session one: Participants work in groups

 

Facilitator: Dhardon Sharling

Mission Statement

Individual responsibility and civic engagement

 

Consultants:

 

Tsering Choedon and Vinayak Narayan (Legal matters)

Tashi Dolma, Samten Choedon, Nyima Lhamo and Tsering Dolma (TWA matters)

Dhardon Sharling (Tibetan Administration and Societal attitude)

 

 4:45- 5:00 pm:

 

Finalizing the Mission Statement and Action Plan- Group Vote

 

Facilitator: Dhardon Sharling

 

End of Day one

 

 

Day Two, Tuesday, February 4

 

9:30- 11:15 am: Plenary Session Two

 

Dialogue Initiators:

• Dr. B. Tsering Yeshi, Member Tibetan Parliament in Exile, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Tibetan Women in India—Breaking Social Stereotypes and Political Prejudices.’

 

• Ms. Tenzin Tseyang, Coordinator, Women’s Empowerment Desk of Central Tibetan Administration, will speak on the topic:

 

 ‘Gender status of Tibetan women in India—pressing issues as grassroots.’

 

• Mr. Vinayak Narayan, Advocate, District Court, Dharamsala, will speak on the topic:

 

‘Dealing with cases of Domestic Violence in the Tibetan Community in Exile.’

 

Dialogue Chair: Nyima Lhamo, General Secretary, TWA

 

Followed by Question and Answer

11:15- 11:30 am: Tea Break

 

11:30 am – 01:30 pm:  Sharing….

on Field Survey Results / Ground Observation by Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile, Action Team (LETWIE-AT).

 

-Ms. Tashi Dolma, President, TWA

-Ms. Samten Choedon, Vice President, TWA

-Ms. Nyima Lhamo, General Secretary, TWA

-Ms. Tsering Dolma, Joint Secretary, TWA

 

Moderator: Dorji Kyi

Followed by Question and Answer session

01:30 -2:30 pm: Lunch Break

2:30 – 3:30 pm:

 

Workshop Session two:

 

Facilitator: Dhardon Sharling

 

Action at Institutional Level: Participants work in groups

 

v  What should TWA do next to address the pressing concerns

 

v  Recommendations for Central Tibetan Administration

 

Consultants:

 

Tsering Choedon and Vinayak Narayan (Legal matters)

Tashi Dolma, Samten Choedon, Nyima Lhamo and Tsering Dolma (TWA matters)

Dhardon Sharling (Tibetan Administration and Societal attitude)

3:30-3:45 pm : Tea Break

3:45 pm – 4.30pm: Sealing the deal…

 

Facilitator: Dhardon Sharling

 

Finalizing the Next Steps of Action for TWA

 

Finalizing the list of recommendations for CTA

 

(Group vote for the best action plan with feedback and input from LETWIE-AT)

 

4:30-5:00 pm: Closing

 

Tashi Dolma, Samten Choedon, Nyima Lhamo and Tsering Dolma

………END…….