Tibetan Women Helpline encourages women to speak out against violence

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 8: The Tibetan Women Helpline of the Women Empowerment Desk (WED) under the CTA held an event on Thursday emphasizing the need for women or any other gender to speak out against violence. The initiative encourages victims to speak out against any sexual, gender or domestic violence against them.

The team elucidated its vision to curb violence subjected mostly to women and charted out challenges for such an initiative. The helpline number is currently limited to the state of Himachal Pradesh but the group has future prospects to reach out to other states in the future.  

The helpline number which was launched on March 20 will assist to resolve domestic violence, child abuse, and rape cases through mediation between the victim and the law. Providing counselling, a safe space, legal support, police help, local shelters for the aggrieved women are some of the help that the helpline provides.

Kalsang Dolma, Helpline counsellor, elaborated on the workings of the group and promised to voice the victim’s testimony to help generate a “safe space for women in their homes, workplaces and in the community”. She further remarked how backlash from the society and victim-shaming have made it increasingly difficult for women to reach out for help.

Samkar Dolma, Management Officer, added that the helpline service works under the information provided by Indian government schemes and services. They provide legal help to women “who lack language proficiency in bureaucratic spaces, help acquire protection with the help of local police, and address the problems to a family court.” She stressed that it is paramount that they do not leak confidential information about the assault as the service hopes to encourage women to seek help without negative backlash. 

The audience raised questions regarding the redressal process when it comes to cases of assault or harassment from people in a position of power or authority. The discussion also led to complicated aspects of various cases that determine the charges of assault and how the intention of the perpetrator and impact on the victim are the crucial topics of consideration. WED in cooperation with Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) plans to set up more services in different localities and urged the Tibetan community to be more inclusive when confronted with sensitive topics regarding violence against women.