29 April, 2010 by olivia | Topics: Legal Take

The confusion about the DV Act is about to be settled. A Petition has already been filed in Delhi High Court.

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11 April, 2010 by olivia | Topics: Culture Today
What does it mean to really help, make a change

A year ago
My maid is an illiterate woman from Bihar, Muslim by religion, but with relatively fair IQ for her being and upbringing. She is single-handed bringing up her 5 kids and taken steps to ensure no more babies all by herself. In response to her act, the husband went absconding for good 2 years. [...]

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17 March, 2010 by Sanjukta | Topics: Culture Today
Much talk about Hijab: Still a sign of oppression

It has been a while that I wanted to write about the much talked about tradition of wearing a Hijab or Burqa. The context was set even better when I saw this short Spanish film by Xavi Sala about Hijab in Europe and the discrimination young Muslim women face in a so-called “free” Europe.
See the [...]

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15 March, 2010 by Nisha | Topics: Culture Today, Legal Take
Regulation of Disabled Women’s Sexuality

In general, women’s voices for their specific rights in the disability rights movement in India are hardly present. Voices of disabled women is almost absent in the mainstream women’s rights movement. The politics of ‘normal’ or ‘able’ bodies and minds is further complicates disabled women’s identity. Societal norms with regard to the ‘ideal’ womanhood and the ‘ideal body’ render physically disabled and mentally challenged women invisible. They become objects to be hidden, never to be seen, heard or felt. Since feminism is a politics of the oppressed against being pushed to the margins, disability, in my view, is a feminist issue. As an oppressed group, disabled women and men face challenges related to educational and training opportunity, inclusion, occupational attainment, economic status, and social outlets. But disabled women face particular issues of reproductive rights; control over their bodies; physical, sexual and emotional violence; and sexual rights and representations, which are considered taboo topics by the disability movement. It is important, therefore, that feminisms in India change towards inclusiveness and support the disabled women in rejecting the traditional subservient and invisible role. There is a need for a new emancipatory politics for the disabled women, which is led by the disabled women from the centre of the Indian women’s movement.

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27 January, 2010 by Ashish | Topics: Bell Bajao Videos, Rights Reporters
Meet Prabha Singh, an individual change maker

Hi, this is Breakthrough Rights Reporter Ashish reporting from Kanpur. I met Prabha Singh an amazingly courageous and outspoken woman who have brought great change in her community with her activities.
Prabha Singh is also one of our Rights Advocates

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20 January, 2010 by admin | Topics: Events
Event Announcement: Breakthrough Anganwadi Mela, Mangalore

On 23rd January 2010 Mangalore will see a great conglomeration of inspirational women from various parts of the Dakshina Kannada district talking about ways to end domestic violence and discuss the case of Lt Shamshad. This open event is being organized by Breakthrough in partnership with about 300 to 400 Anganwadi workers from 9 Blocks in [...]

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12 January, 2010 by Indian Home Maker | Topics: Culture Today, In the News, blog
If someone dislocated your jaw…

If someone dislocated your jaw in one of the many violent beatings they gave you, how would you like to try to live with them and win their love?
23 year old Neha committed suicide on January 1st. Her family alleged that her in laws “used to beat her up…” [Link] “Once she was beaten so [...]

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14 December, 2009 by Piali | Topics: Culture Today
Safe Motherhood

Motherhood is best described by the adage” Hands that rocks the cradle rules the world”. To quote Abraham Lincoln also known as “Honest Abe” “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Thomas Edison said “Had it not been for my mother’s appreciation and her faith in me at [...]

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11 December, 2009 by Ashish | Topics: Bell Bajao Videos, Rights Reporters
This is Kaamini’s story, what is yours?

One of our rights advocates, Kaamini rang the bell.
Kaamini lives in a slum near the Shivaji Nagar area of Bangalore, India. She along with the help of few more girls, all of who have atteded a breakthrough leadership training, took action against a man who used to always get drunk and create nuisance in [...]

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