PLD in the News

This section highlights newspaper articles and talk shows on television where PLD has appeared.

Visual Media

Click on the links below to view the news:

Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Justice and Ending Harmful Practices, MenEngage Alliance, 21st January, 2021
Should Adultery In The Army Be a Crime?, Mojo Story, 15th January, 2020
PM Modi Decision on Raising Age of Marriage for Girls soon. Issue Divides Activists, Mojo Story, 19th October, 2020
Will Increasing Marriage Age Promise a Better Future for Women?, Newsclick, 13th September, 2020
Beyond Criminalization Dialogue 1: When Laws Harm – Madhu Mehra, RESURJ, 16th July, 2020
Strengthening Emergency Response and Support Services for Gender-based Violence Under the Shadows of Covid -19 Pandemic, IFMR Lead, 22nd May, 2020
Capital Punishment Cannot be the Solution to the Problem of Women’s Safety, The Wire, 20th March, 2020
1 Rape Is Reported Every 15 Minutes in India, Global Citizen, 13th January, 2020
Study moots lowering the age of consent, The Hindu, 10th November 2019
What You Need To Know About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,The Wire, 8th October 2018
We The People: Should Adultery Be A Crime At All, NDTV, 12th August, 2018
India’s Witch Hunts, Global Journalists, 11th May 2018
Navigating Consent in Messy Relationships, The Wire, 20th June, 2018
These 11 Videos Will Open a Dialogue Around Consent & Rejection, The Quint, 30th May, 2018
India Marital Rape Law: Court Criminalises Sex Between man and Underage Wife, BBC World News, 11th October, 2017
बलात्कार पीड़ितों के लिए कानून कितना संवेदनशील और पीड़ित केंद्रित है. The Wire Hindi, 26th September, 2017
महिलाओं का कार्यस्थल पर लैंगिक उत्पीड़न, Sawai Madhopur App, 22th June, 2017
डायन शब्द और पहचान को हटाना होगा, Pathrika Rajasthan, 20th June, 2017
How Women In India Are Branded ‘Witch’ To Settle Legal Disputes, Youth Ki Awaaz, 21st March, 2017
Watch: The Row Over Preity Zinta’s Complaint – Shobhaa De vs Tavleen Singh, NDTV, 16th June, 2014
Sex, Lies & Maintenance: Madras HC verdict – Judicial Overspeak? NDTV, 18th June, 2013
Preeti Rathi Succumbed to Acid Attack Injuries, NewsX, 4th June, 2013
Delhi Gang Rape a ‘Wake Up Call’ for India’s Youth, 4th News, 3rd January, 2013
Alimony and the Modern Woman, NDTV, 31st October, 2010

Print Media

Witch Hunting

Raj, Suhasini (2023), “India Struggles to Eradicate an Old Scourge: Witch Hunting”, The New York Times, 13th May, 2023
A Less Talked About Crime Against Women, The Pioneer, 3rd March, 2021
Reading Rhea Chakraborty’s Public Vilification as A Modern-Day Witch Hunt: Actress’ Harassment Has Historic Roots, First Post, 31st August, 2020
Witch-hunting: Victims of Superstition?, The Tribune, 7th March, 2020
The Witches of Dahod, Fountainink, 11th December, 2019
Collision of Witch Hunting and Murder, Indian Folk, 25th July, 2018
Lynching Conundrum, Tehelka, 19th July, 2018
If You Think Witch-Hunting Is History, Then Think Again, Feminism in India, 13th April, 2018
Law Fails to Prevent Centuries-old Witch Hunting, Deccan Herald, 9th December, 2017
Witches Beaten, Buried, Burned for Land in Princely Indian State, Thomson Reuters, 4th October, 2017
Witch-hunting: A Social Ill Law Alone Cannot Fight, Deccan Herald, 19th September 2017
Witch-Hunting in Eastern India, Activists Fight Back, Indian Country Today, 23rd July, 2017
‘Black Witch Priest’ in India Dismembers 4-Year-Old in Sacrifice to Find Teen’s Missing Cellphone, Washington Post, 8th November, 2016
The ‘Witches’ of Assam: Hunted, Beheaded and Raped, DNA India, 15th May, 2016
‘Are You A Witch?’ This Could Happen To You, She The People, 31st March, 2016
Greed for Property and Power Behind Jharkhand Witch Hunts, Hindustan Times, 16 September, 2015
Bollywood in Regressive Gear with More Ghostly Myths, Hindustan Times, 4th April, 2015
Study Points to Witch- Hunt Trauma, The Telegraph, 24 December 2014
Thousands of Women Tortured and Executed in Indian Witch Hunts, www.smh.com.au, 22th July, 2014
Thousands of Women, Accused of Sorcery, Tortured and Executed in Indian Witch Hunts, Washington Post, 21st July, 2014
Witch hunting | Victims of Superstition, LiveMint, 23rd February, 2014
Witch Hunts Rampant Despite Laws: Study, Times of India, 2nd December, 2013
Inclusion of Witch Hunting under Laws on Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment Favored, The Hindu, 30th November, 2013
Law Needed to Deal with Witch Hunt: NCW Member, Business Standard, 21st May, 2013
Bollywood Falls in Regressive Gear with Ghostly Myths? Free Press Journal, 6th April, 2013
Ek Thi Daayan Regressive and Witch-hunting is Tragic, Say Women’s Groups, NDTV News, 4th April, 2013
Many Cases of Women Branded as Witches Still Go Unreported, Times of India, 22nd January, 2013

Gender and Sexuality

Don’t cut age of consent from 18 to 16, urges 22nd Law Commission”, The New Indian Express, 28th September 2023
Express View on criminalisation of romantic relationships: Love & punishment, The New Indian Express, 18th July, 2023
Consensual Teen Sex Is Real Complicated in India, Vice, 26th May, 2023
Assam government’s drive against child marriage a ham-handed attempt, Frontline, 23rd February, 2023
“I thought she was a shy type. Then she filed a complaint.”, The Third Eye, 12th November 2020.
Interview: ‘Child marriage law has been weaponised by parents of girls who marry men they choose’, Your Weekly Fix, Scroll, 28th December 2022.
What’s love got to do with kidnapping cases?, LiveMint, 21st September 2022
We need to create safe spaces for adolescents, Hindustan Times, 25th December 2021.
Can a Law to Raise Marriage Age for Women Work?, Hindustan Times, 24th December 2021.
Why Govt Move Of Raising Legal Age of Marriage For Women May Harm Instead of Benefiting Them, Article 14, 23rd December 2021.
Increasing Women’s Minimum Age for Marriage: Will it Prevent Child Marriage? Can raising the minimum legal age of marriage benefit women and girls?, The Quint, 17th December 2021.
Elopement primary cause for legal action in underage marriages: Study, The New Indian Express, 27th July, 2021
ये 5 क़ानून और पॉलिसी इसलिए बनाये गए थे ताकि ये किशोरों की मदद करें – तो ये क्यों मदद नहीं कर पाए? Agents of Ishq, 24th June 2021.
Covid-19 Silences Child Brides’ Sobs, The Hans India, 15th February, 2021.
The Trinity of Patriarchy, Poverty and the Pandemic, The Hindustan Times, 6th February, 2021
India May Up Marriageable Age of Girls But What About Age of Sexual Consent?, SheThePeople, 21st January, 2021
शादी के लिए लड़की की न्यूनतम उम्र बढ़ाने से क्या बाल विवाह रुक पाएंगें?, BBC News (Hindi), 31st December, 2020
Will Raising the Marriageable Age for Women Set Her Free or Rob Her Freedom Further?, The Leaflet, 6th December, 2020
India: Muslim Man Arrested for ‘Trying to Convert Hindu Woman’, The National, 3rd December, 2020
Hindu Nationalists Raise Spectre of ‘Love Jihad’ with Marriage Law, The Financial Times, 3rd December, 2020. Reprinted in InterConNews, iNewsly Media and The Finance Info.
Hyderabad Activists Want Women’s Legal Marriage Age to Stay at 18, Increasing It May Cause More Harm, New Indian Express, 16th September, 2020
When to Wed: Raising the Minimum Age of Marriage, The Frontline (The Hindu), 15th September, 2020
Will Increasing Marriage Age Promise a Better Future for Women?, Newsclick, 13th September, 2020. (Facebook Account Required to Access)
Why Women’s Organisations Oppose Move to Increase Marriage Age, The Citizen, 6th September, 2020
Agency Not Age: Concerns On Raising The Age Of Marriage, Behan Box, 6th September, 2020
Raising the Minimum Legal Age of Marriage for Women to 21 Years is Neither Feasible Nor Promising, Scroll, 3rd September, 2020
Poverty, Not Early Marriage, Cause of Ill-Health of Mothers: Experts, Indian Express, 29th August, 2020
Just Another Meaningless Number, The Hindu, 28th August, 2020
Marriageable Age: Law Reform Proposals Are Just Not Enough, VIDURA(July- Sept. 2020) Press Institute of India, 27th August, 2020
Civil Society Bodies Urge Govt To Not Increase Women’s Minimum Age Of Marriage, SheThePeople, 26th August, 2020
Activists urge govt not to increase women’s marriage age, Rediff.com, 25th August 2020.
Unintended Consequences’: Ground Workers Object to Govt’s Proposal to Raise Minimum Age of Marriage, News18, 25th August, 2020
Increasing Women’s Age of Marriage to 21 is a Superficial Idea; Rather Govt Should Focus on Education and Jobs, E-TV Bharat, 25th August, 2020
करीब 100 नागरिक संस्थाओं का महिलाओं के लिए विवाह की न्यूनतम आयु नहीं बढ़ाने का आग्रह, Amar Ujala, 25th August, 2020
Activists Against Raising Age of Marriage for Women, The Hindu, 25th August, 2020.
Do Not Increase Women’s Minimum Age of Marriage: Society Bodies to Govt., One India, 25th August, 2020.
महिलाओं के लिए विवाह की न्यूनतम उम्र नहीं बढ़ाने का आग्रह, 100 नागरिक संस्थाओं ने सरकार से पूछे ये सवाल, Live Hindustan, 25th August, 2020.
Let Us Decide’: Young Women Speak Out on Raising Age of Marriage From 18 To 21, The News Minute, 25th August, 2020
Focus Should Be on Root Causes of Child Marriage, Not Increasing Marriage Age: Activists, The Wire, 25th August, 2020
Over 100 Civil Society Bodies Urge Govt to Not Increase Women”s Minimum Age of Marriage, Outlook, 25th August, 2020, Reprinted in New Indian Express, India Times, Deccan Herald, Sify and News18.
CSOs Urge Govt. Not to Increase Age of Marriage for Girls to 21, The Statesman, 24th August, 2020
‘ವಯಸ್ಸು ಏರಿಕೆ ಮುನ್ನ ಕಾನೂನು ಬಿಗಿಗೊಳಿಸಿ, Prajavani, 24th August, 2020
India Has 1.5 Million Underage Brides Every Year. Here’s How ’21’ Can Change That, The Better India, 17th August, 2020
Activists Say Increasing Minimum Marriage Age of Girls Won’t Help Their Vulnerability, India Today, 16th August, 2020
Government May Re-Look Age of Marriage for Women, The Hindu, 15th August, 2020
COVID-19 Crisis Risks Reversing Gains Made Against Child Marriage In India; Legal Revisions Alone Aren’t Solution, First Post, 27^th July, 2020
Coronavirus Crisis to Spiral Child Marriage in India, The Hans India, 22nd July, 2020
A Better World for Her, The Times of India, 22nd July, 2020
বয়ঃসন্ধির প্রতি বয়ঃসন্ধির জন্য, Bartaman Patrika, 21st March, 2020
Employment is required to prevent child marriage, discussed in a convention (Bengali), Anandabazar Patrika, 5th February, 2020
Books on Adolescent Sexuality and Early Marriage Series Released, Millennium Post, 4th February, 2020
Find A Better Alternative , The Pioneer, 10th January, 2020
As Centre Mulls Changes, Activists Concerned Over Misuse of Child Marriage, POCSO Laws, The Wire, 14th December, 2019
On The Question of Love and Underage Marriage, Hindustan Times, 15th November, 2019
उम्र या फिर क्षमता पर भी केंद्रित हो कानून – मधु महरा, दैनिक भास्कर, 10 नवंबर 2019
Study moots lowering the age of consent, The Hindu, 10th November 2019
ஓடுகாலி… இந்த வார்த்தையைச் சொல்லும் முன் கவனியுங்கள்…, Aval Vikatan, 29th October, 2019
Love in A Legal Tangle, The Times of India, 10th October, 2019
How Young is Too Young for Consensual Sex?, The Hindu, 4th October, 2019
வீட்டிற்கு தெரியாமல் பெண்கள் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்வது ஏன்? ஆய்வில் தகவல், Samayam, 28th September, 2019
Why Girls Elope: Study Has Answers, The Times of India, 28th September, 2019
Age of Consent Should Be Reduced to 16, The New Indian Express, 28th September, 2019
New NHRC Study Looks at How India Can Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health, The Wire, 22nd January, 2019
Relationships are Essential to Each Other (Gujarati), Bombay Samachar, 30th August 2018
The Paradoxes of Censorship, The Hoot, 14th December, 2015
Rainbow Wedding, LiveMint, 11th July, 2015
Unmarried Women Told Not to Have Sex, India Real Time, 23rd October, 2013
A Load of Unnecessary Trouble, The Nation-Thailand, 3rd July, 2013
पैसे देकर सेक्स करने पर रोक को लेकर कड़ा विरोध, Aaj Tak, 19th February, 2013

Consent and Sexual Harassment

Boost for India’s #MeToo as Journalist Cleared of Defamation, The Financial Times, 17th February, 2021. Reprinted in Eminetra.
Has the Legal System Been A Trap for Tanushree’s #MeToo?, The Quint, 16th June, 2019
Bring places of worship under POSH, says lawyer Flavia Agnes as NCW seeks to review 2013 Act, First Post, 18th November, 2018
‘I Became An Auto Driver Because It’s Easier To Have Sex’: A Secret Life In Hyderabad, Youth ki Awaaz, 24th October, 2018
Indian Minister Quits Following Claims of Sexual Harassment, Financial Times, 17th October, 2018
Modi Under Fire for His Silence Amid India’s #MeToo Moment, Financial Times, 17th October, 2018
Talking To Married Women About Sex Showed Me How Little Wives Think About Consent, Youth Ki Awaaz, 16th September, 2018
Why We Must See That Consent And Sex Are Directly Proportional To Each Other, Youth Ki Awaaz, 26th August, 2018
Videos and Panel Discussion to Explore Lines Between Intimacy and Harassment, Mid Day News, 19th August, 2018
Video Series Explores Faultlines Between Friendship, Intimacy, and Harassment, Press Trust of India, 30th May, 2018. Reprinted in Outlook and India Today.
इस वजह से जॉब बदलना पसंद करती हैं युवतियां, Patrika (Bhopal), 27th February, 2018
सेक्सुअल हरासमेंट आन वर्क पैलेस पर मीडिया की भूमिका पर आयोजित 2 दिवसीय कार्यशाला में देश के 6 राज्यो के पत्रकारों ने लिया हिसा।, Hindustan Headlines, 23rd December, 2017
PLD organised Sexual Harassment Workshop in collaboration with Charkha, Lazawal Jammu 22nd December 2017
यूरोप में 50 % महिलाये कार्यस्थल प्रताड़ना की शिकार, People’s Samachar, 25th April, 2017
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Another Expression of Power Game of Patriarchal Society, News Bits, 24th April, 2017
Sexual Harassment: A Complainant at Gujarat’s IRMA Describes Hurdles She Faced to Seek Justice, Scroll, 15th April, 2017
In Posters: Know All About Sexual Harassment At The Workplace And The Law, Feminism in India, 17th December, 2015
Sexual Harassment in Schools: What to Consider as Delhi Police’s Operation Nirbheek is Implemented Citywide, The Caravan, 14th October, 2015
Fund Women for Polls, Says NCW’s Draft ‘Bill of Rights’, The Times of India, 23rd October, 2013
Government Does Not Consider Stalking, Stripping as Sex Crimes; Excludes It From Proposed Legislation, India Today, 4th January, 2013
To Hell with Modesty, The Crest Edition, The Times of India, 19th January, 2013
Sexist! boorish! misogynist! and this must change now, Hindustan Times, 17th September, 2011
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Bill: Justice or A Cruel Joke, OneWorld South Asia, 8th December, 2010
लैंगिक उड़पीड़न की रोकथाम के लिए जागरूकता जरूरी: नकाते, नवज्योति/बाड़मेर

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)

THE BIG STORY: The two-finger test is banned, again. Why we need to do more for rape survivors, Mind the Gap, Hindustan Times, 6th November 2022.
‘Patriarchal’: SC slams use of invasive rape test, Hindustan Times, 1st November 2022
Harsher Punishments for Sexual Violence Is Only the Easy, Not Best, Thing to Do, The Wire, 27th January, 2020
Every 15 Minutes, One Woman Is Raped in India, iNews.id (Indonesian), 15th January, 2020
महिलाओं इतनी असुरक्षित क्यों?, Naya India, 14th January, 2020
भारत में नहीं रुक रहे बलात्कार के मामले, Web Dunia, 14th January, 2020
One Woman Reports A Rape Every 15 Minutes in India, Radio Havana Cuba (English), 12th January, 2020.
1 Rape Is Reported Every 15 Minutes in India, Global Citizen, 13th January, 2020
One Woman Reports A Rape Every 15 Minutes in India, Al Jazeera (English), 10th January, 2020. Reprinted in Global Citizen, The Afrinik News, MENAFN, ThisIsMoney.co.uk, Upnewsinfo.com, National Post , Al Khaleej Today, Asia One (English), Al Jazeera Balkan, Oslobodjenje (Bosnian), Swissinfo (Portuguese), Tuoi Tre Online (Vietnamese), and Merdeka, REQnews, Rakyatku (Indonesian)
भारत में नहीं रुक रहे बलात्कार के मामले, Deutsche Welle, 10th January, 2020
One Woman Reports a Rape Every 15 Minutes in India, Thomsom Reuters, 9th Janurary, 2020. Reprinted in India Today, Deccan Chronicle, US News and Your Story.
Death for Rape? Why Lawmakers Need to Get Realistic and Not Fan Public Sentiments, India Today, 4th December, 2019. Reprinted in Project 39A.
Fast-Track Courts to try Rape Need Infra Push, Sstudies Show, Hindustan Times, 28th August, 2018
Fast-Track Courts Doing More Harm Than Good: Experts, SheThePeople.TV, 4th August, 2018.
Indian Court Criticized for Denying Convicted Rapists Furlough Rights, Asia Times, 30th June, 2018
Why Bombay High Court is Right in Saying Sex on Promise of Marriage is Not Rape, Daily O, 8th April, 2018
From Bed Room to Court Room, The Tribune, 19th September, 2017
“Everyone Blames Me”, Human Rights Watch, 8th November, 2017
PLD Conducts Study On Victim Friendly Responses To Rape Prosecutions, Feminism in India, 6th September, 2017
The Shocking Questions Lawyers Ask Rape Survivors, Times of India, 4th September, 2017
बलात्कार पीड़िताओं की चिकित्सा जांच में दिशा-निर्देशों का पालन नहीं किया जाता, The Wire HIndi, 3rd November, 2017
बलात्कार पीड़िताओं की चिकित्सा जांच में दिशानिर्देशों का पालन नहीं किया जाता: अध्ययन, Samachar Jagat, 3rd September, 2017
अध्ययन से हुआ खुलासा, दुष्कर्म की पीड़िताओं की जांच में नहीं होता दिशानिर्देशों का पालन, Prabhat Khabar, 2nd September, 2017
Senior Advocate Rebecca John on “How to Humanize Rape Trials, SheThePeopleTV, 2nd September, 2017
‘Attempt to Complete Rape Trial in 2 Months Unrealistic’, The Hindu, 2nd September, 2017
Norms Not Followed in Medical Examination of Rape Victims, says Study, Hindustan Times, 2nd September 2017. Reprinted in Economic Times.
Widespread Victim Intimidation, Unrealistic Time Frame for Rape Trials in Delhi, Finds Study, The Wire, 2nd September, 2017
Medical Examination of Rape Victims Not in Accordance With Ministry Rules: Study, Indian Express, 2nd September, 2017
Study Recommends Speedy Trial in Rape Cases, IANS, 1st September, 2017
Law Gives 60 Days for Rape Trial; Delhi Court Takes 240 for Survivor Statement, News 18, 24th June, 2017
5 Years On, It’s The Same Ordeal for Nirbhayas, The Times of India, 23rd June, 2017
सिर्फ 3% मामले में होती है सजा, Nayi Duniya, 25th April 2017
Are India’s Anti-Rape Laws as Draconian as Madhu Kishwar Says They Are?, Scroll, 7th April, 2017
Rape Laws: A Call for Change, Live Mint, 18th March, 2017
खुलासा- भारत में बलात्कार पीड़ितों की चिकित्सा जांच में जाती है दिशानिर्देशों की अनदेखी, Navodaya Times, 9th February, 2017
There is Little Attention to Victim-Centric Support Services, The Hindu, 16th December, 2016
Rape Cases: Scripted FIRs Fail Court Test, The Hindu, 1st August, 2014
On R-Day Delhi Sees Rerun of Rape Protests, Calls for Action, Hindustan Times, 27th January 2013, Part 1
On R-Day Delhi Sees Rerun of Rape Protests, Calls for Action, Hindustan Times, 27th January 2013, Part 2
Rape Forces Spotlight on Indian Courts, The International News, 2nd January, 2013
The Rapes Go On. How Do We?, Tehelka, 31st December, 2012
Government Urged to Redefine Sexual Assault, The Hindu, 19th July, 2012

CEDAW

Equality Campaign need Consolidation, The Rising Nepal, 2nd September 2023
Women need de jure, de facto rights to end discrimination, The Himalayan, 31st August 2023
Women’s Rights Flow from Ancient Traditions, Says India at UN, The Times of India, 13th August, 2014
India Not Willing to Accept Failure in Providing Safety Measures to Women, The Hindu, 8th August, 2014
India Aspires to be the World Leader, While Safety of Women is in Dark Shadow, Janpratinidhi, 7th August, 2014
India Ignoring UN’s Recommendations to Curb Violence Against Women: Women Activists, NNWN, 6th August, 2014
Experts say India ignoring UN’s recommendations to curb violence against women, India TV News, 6th August, 2014
India Ignoring UN’s Recommendations to Curb Violence Against Women, Business Standard, 5th August, 2014
Law with Loopholes, The Hindu, 1st October, 2013
Wanted: NCW with Teeth, Deccan Herald, 3rd June, 2013
In Geneva, India Defends Its Human Rights Record, The Hindu, 25th May, 2012
India’s Economic Growth Leaves Human Development in the Dust, Inter Press Service, 23rd May, 2012
Training to End Discrimination in South Asia, UN Women Asia-Pacific, 10th July, 2011

Access to Justice

Let Feminist Organisations Run Campaigns for Full Realisation of Their Rights in Property, Radiance Weekly, 14th May, 2017
Triple Talaq Phobia ; What About Prostitutes, Victims of Alcohol and Female Infanticide, Muslim Mirror, 10th October, 2016
In India, Daughters Have Big Family Problems with Inheritance, Women’s eNews, 2nd May, 2016
Call to Re-think Pre-Nup Plans, Bangalore Mirror, 24th November, 2015
Pre-Nup Pact Lacks Bite: Women’s Rights Groups, Bangalore Mirror, 23rd November, 2015
Property: Daughter Has Share but Father Has Will, The Times of India, 16th June, 2015
Cry for Freedom, The Tribune, 30th December, 2012
All Marginalised Groups are Insecure, The Hindu, 8th December, 2012
The Struggle for Human Rights, Governance Now, 8th December, 2012
Marriages Are Still Traps for The 21st Century Women, Navhind Times, 21st February, 2011
Indian NGOs Raise Dailt Issues Before UN Panel, Atrocity News, 25th January, 2007

Podcast

Haryana & MP Plan to Enact ‘Love Jihad’ Laws But on What Basis?, The Quint (Podcast), 18th November, 2020
Women’s Health, Nutrition and Marriage, HT Smartcast (Hindustan Times Podcast), 1st September, 2020
Should the Age of Marriage for Women be Raised to 21?, The Hindu Parley Podcast, 3rd September, 2020