Mumbai: Marking a new academic year for the Women’s Commission, an orientation programme was held at the Salvation Seva Kendra, Dadar, on Sunday, July 19. Participants from deaneries across the Archdiocese were registered and over 200 women participated in the programme.
Maria D’cunha, the exiting Executive Secretary of the commission introduced and welcomed the new team on the board which included Ecclesial Director of the Women’s Commission Fr. Anthony J Fernandes, and Executive Secretary of the Women’s Commission Jean Saldanha.
She briefly spoke about the founder Ecclesial Director, Fr Ralph Fernandes who was the first priest to start the Women’s Cell in his parish 20 years ago, which grew in leaps and bounds. Bp Dominic Savio Fernandes, inspired by the Spirit of God, selected Ms Jean Saldanha and requested her to take on leadership of the Women’s Commission
Fr Anthony, in his address, emphasized on the focus of shepherding like Jesus the Good Shepherd and went to explain his activities and role as the new director. He pledged to work in various parishes on the women’s cell and also to ensure that the youth bring in new ideas, as women today are very creative.
“Vision is set and timeless, the way we operate vision… influenced by times, the people we encounter, signs of times to make it our very own. Every person has a contribution to make. We cannot say we are helpless but a better word would be ‘possible’; together we can make it happen”, said Jean Saldanha, speaking about the vision for the Women’s Commission.
After The Deanery Coordinators reported briefly on activities organized by their respective parish cells of their deaneries, Christine, a lawyer of Majlis Legal Centre, spoke briefly on the great work done by them
Toolkits were then distributed and a briefing on the same was given by Ancella D’Souza. She also elaborated on the highlights and importance of the Women’s Leadership Training Program (WLTP) which is scheduled to begin from 25th July at Antonio D’Silva School, Dadar.
Following this, the gathering was briefed on the Girl Child Day theme and informed that a PPT and liturgy on the same would be sent which could be screened at the Archdiocese and all Parishes. Banners of Girl Child declaration could also be put up in all Parishes.The day was concluded with the national anthem.
The event was anchored by Lorraine.
A Brief Background on Majlis:
Majlis was started 20 years ago by Adv. Flavia Agnes, a women’s rights activist and legal scholar, a victim of domestic violence herself. It is a forum for women’s rights discourse and legal initiatives. It consists of a team of all women lawyers and social activists committed to informing, educating and empowering women on their legal rights.
Majlis offers legal services, conducts legal awareness training, and engages in policy level interventions, public campaigns and public interest litigation in order to help women access justice. They train Women Cell members through a Para Legal Course which equips them to deal with legal and non-legal institutions to effectively negotiate on behalf of women
They organize camps for orientation of Women’s rights and have consultation for them. The Mahila Dakshata Samiti is a group of women connected with the police (at every Police station) which helps build rapport with the police. Majlis also organizes many Training Programs with the Police. She also briefed everyone on the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from the Sexual Offences Act) – an Act to protect children from the abuse of sexual assault, harassment and pornography.
