The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was jointly organized by the Women Empowerment Cell, Dr. KCG Verghese Higher Education Leadership Management Centre, Rotary Club of Hindustan, Office of Student Affairs on 28th November 2023. The event was organized in line with the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG5). The chief guest for the event was Adv. Swapna, Senior Partner PV Giridhar Associates Law Chamber & Legal Strategist of IP Dome-IP Strategy Advisors, Soroptimist International, Chennai. Ms. Swapna is a lawyer and with 20 years’ experience in litigation and legal strategy. Also, she teaches IPR Law, Technology Law, Clinical Trial Ethics in various institutions.

Adv. Swapna in her address mentioned the significance on observing the day for the elimination of violence against women. She claimed that violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life as per the reports. Hence,the United Nations Organisation has declared 25 November as the International Day for the elimination of Violence against women.

She interacted with students and mentioned that every individual should take the responsibility to systematically eliminate discrimination, since discrimination is correlated with violence, and leads to impunity. Crime originating from psycho paths should be identified and arrested, cyber harassment should be curtailed and removed. Students were also informed about the social sites hacking, awareness of cybercrimes in social sites and ways to be alert and how to approach legal system in this regard.

Dr. Akkara Sherine, Professor in English, and Head Rankings, Women Empowerment Cell, HELM Centre welcomed the audience comprising students and staff Ms. Beena James, Head Student Affairs, Mr. Gnanasekaran, NSS Head and Rotary Secretary. She welcomed and introduced the the Chief Guest Adv. Swapna Sundar. Ms. Beena James, Associate Professor and Head Student Affairs, proposed the vote of thanks.