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Workshop on Peace and Conflict
Two day workshop for women on
‘Peace and conflict’ was held at Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh jointly with Aman Vedika on 5th and 6th
February 2011. There were 60 participants including men
participants. The participants were from different
districts of Andhra Pradesh.
 The
Purpose of the workshop was to create awareness and
train the social activists specially women participants
to know about the various communal violence that has
erupted in Andhra Pradesh and its effects on women. The
resource persons were Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Dr.
Shaikh, a human rights activist, Ms. Anuradha an NGO
worker who is working for women’s rights and Dr. Mazar
Hussain Director, COVA. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer spoke on
communalism and communal violence in India and medieval
history. Dr. Mazar Hussain spoke on the communal
violence in Andhra Pradesh and how the minorities are
oppressed by the police and harassment given by the
police to the minorities. He insisted that the civil
society should unite and fight for the just cause. Dr.
Shaikh spoke on the rights of citizens under Indian
constitution and as a staunch supporter of human rights,
he narrated instances of violation of human rights by
the police and the atrocities against the minorities by
the police. Ms. Anuradha spoke on the equality of women
and asserted that until and unless women realize their
strength and exercise their rights and takes initiative
in societies responsibilities no society can progress.
The interaction of the participants
narrating the success stories of women involvement in
presenting local conflicts and also facing the police
against atrocities was encouraging aspects. The workshop
ended with an advice that women should involve more and
more communal harmony and conflict transformation
workshop in respective districts and continue the follow
up workshop.
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