Face2News/Chandigarh
Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Punjab, in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada and supported by Samvedana, organised a multi-stakeholder panel discussion titled “Unite to End Violence Against All Women and Girls – Understanding Gender-Based Violence: A New Lens on Masculinity” on 18 November 2025 at the Press Club, Sector 27-B, Chandigarh.
Held as part of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign, the event convened community leaders, gender-rights practitioners, civil society organisations, legal experts, academia, government representatives, and the media to deepen the conversation on preventing gender-based violence (GBV) through a more inclusive and masculinity-informed lens. The objective of the discussion was to break the silos, make interventions and create synergy between research, policy planning and implementation.
The panel featured an eminent group of speakers: Dr. Rainuka Dagar, Ph.D., Thought Leader in Gender and Inclusion Dr. Upneet Lalli, Head, Training & Research, Institute of Correctional Administration, Gurfateh Singh Khosa, Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Harjeshwar Pal Singh, Assistant Professor, History, SGGS College, Moderated by Aruti Nayar, Journalist & Vice President, Samvedana.
SEWA Punjab’s State Coordinator, Harsharan Kaur, set the context of the pilot initiative and presented key insights from the first two Focus Group Discussions conducted with young men in Mohali. She highlighted the emerging themes on masculinity, perceptions of responsibility, and awareness gaps around GBV—insights that underline the need for continued community engagement with boys and men.
The session opened with remarks by Mr. Geoffrey Dean, Counsellor – Political, Economic, Public Affairs, and Protocol at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, who emphasised the critical role of dialogue in addressing GBV. He outlined the Canadian government’s ongoing commitment to supporting efforts that challenge harmful gender norms and advance gender equality in India.
The panel featured an eminent group of speakers: Dr. Rainuka Dagar, Ph.D., Thought Leader in Gender and Inclusion Dr. Upneet Lalli, Head, Training & Research, Institute of Correctional Administration, Gurfateh Singh Khosa, Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Harjeshwar Pal Singh, Assistant Professor, History, SGGS College, Moderated by Aruti Nayar, Journalist & Vice President, Samvedana.
The panelists emphasised that addressing GBV requires moving beyond the notion of men solely as perpetrators and instead understanding the social, cultural, and structural pressures that shape masculine identities. They highlighted the need for sustained community engagement, awareness-building, and safe spaces where men and boys can reflect on norms without fear or stigma.
The event concluded with remarks from Mrs. Anuradha Sharma Chagti, Director of Women and Child Development, Chandigarh, who spoke about the government’s ongoing efforts to combat GBV. She also emphasized the responsibility that each individual bears in raising boys to treat women with equality, empathy, and respect.
This panel forms an integral part of SEWA Punjab’s ongoing pilot to explore community perceptions of masculinity and GBV through FGDs across Punjab. Insights gathered from the panel will help refine and strengthen the next phase of FGDs scheduled through March 2026.
SEWA Punjab expressed its gratitude to the High Commission of Canada and Samvedana for their support and to all participants for contributing to a thoughtful, solution-oriented conversation aimed at building safer and more equitable communities.