13-05-2025
India & Pakistan feminists call for peace, dialogue
Bathinda: In a show of cross-border feminist solidarity for peace, over 10 organisations came together to issue an appeal calling for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, and justice in the wake of renewed hostilities between the two nations.
The signatories include feminists, peace activists, artists, journalists, academics, students, grassroots organisers, and other professionals from India and joint statement unequivocally condemns the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. It highlights how such attacks are cynically used to inflame communal tensions and justify militarisation while silencing those who call for signatories express their disappointment at the retributive decision by both countries to cancel medical and short-term visas, causing distress and leading to family separation, especially of children from their mothers. The statement expresses deep concern for the loss of life on both sides and emphasises that wars have no on the fact that the past year saw a global surge in armed violence, and devastating images from Gaza and other conflict zones have become so routine on social media platforms, the statement says that "we are tragically getting desensitised to the true horrors of armed conflict." It further states that "the ceasefire must be the first step in a long, difficult walk towards justice and peace."The signatories from India include the All India Democratic Women's Association, All India Feminist Association (NAPM), All India Progressive Women's Association, ANHAD, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Hazrat-e-mamuli Zindagi, Saheli Women's Resource Centre, Vimochana Forum for Women's Rights, among statement emphasises that war only benefits arms dealers while devastating women, children, and marginalised the signatories call on the govts of India and Pakistan to consolidate the May 10 ceasefire, desist from cross-border violations, and defuse rising tensions by keeping channels of communication open. They urge both nations to jointly initiate an investigation, including international representatives, into the
Pahalgam attack
with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice. They also call for refraining from unilateral actions such as disrupting the Indus Waters Treaty and prioritising dialogue and diplomacy to resolve signatories from India include the All India Democratic Women's Association, All India Feminist Association (NAPM), All India Progressive Women's Association, ANHAD, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Hazrat-e-mamuli Zindagi, Saheli Women's Resource Centre, Vimochana Forum for Women's Rights, and Where Are the Women (Hyderabad).
From Pakistan, the signatories include Aurat March (Islamabad and Lahore) and the Women's Action Forum (chapters: National, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta). MSID:: 121138455 413 |
