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The Women’s Council Wing of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) hosted a webinar on February 23rd titled, “Understanding Action Against Domestic Violence .” Held virtually, the webinar brought together speakers and participants from the USA, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand. The panel was put together by GOPIO Women’s Council Chair Charu Shivakuamr from Southern California.
GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, welcomed participants and highlighted GOPIO’s role in advocating for the Indian diaspora and its achievements in promoting dual nationality. Dr. Abraham said that violence against women was very important issue for the Diaspora community and need service provider organizations all over the world.
GOPIO Women’s Council Chair Shivakumar introduced the session’s purpose, emphasizing the need to raise awareness and provide solutions for domestic violence. GOPIO’s Global Ambassador Nami Kaur discussed her personal commitment to women’s rights and the importance of extending educational efforts globally. The webinar aimed to educate and inspire action against domestic violence, with a panel of experts set to provide insights and recommendations.
The first speaker Ms. Zoya Salim Kara, Team Leader for Ethnic Services at Sahaayta in Auckland, New Zealand, presented on family harm, explaining that New Zealand refers to domestic violence as “family harm” to acknowledge the broader impact on family members. She discussed tools like the Power and Control Wheel and the Wheel of Equality, which help assess and educate about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Zoya highlighted specific issues faced by Indian communities, such as honor killings, dowry-related violence, and the use of immigration status as a tool for control. She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between arranged and forced marriages and discussed cultural differences in expressions of anger and violence.
Zoya also discussed the prevalence of domestic and elder abuse in New Zealand, highlighting the importance of legal rights, community support, and available resources such as the 0800-refuge number and various agencies. She emphasized the need for awareness and action against violence, regardless of gender or cultural differences.
GOPIO Women’s Council Co-Chair Kritilata Ram from Mauritius shared insights on their local response to domestic violence, including a quick reaction system involving the police and support agencies. Boston native Ms. Kumu Gupta spoke about her work in the U.S., including a phone drive program for victims of domestic violence and efforts to raise awareness about deepfake images. GOPIO Health Council Co-chair Aparna Hande, a survivor and educator, planned to share her personal journey and discuss the signs and symptoms of domestic violence, but technical difficulties interrupted her presentation.
Aparna shared her personal experience of overcoming domestic violence and her subsequent work helping other survivors, describing how she created a model family that sheltered 25 people over the years. She emphasized the importance of breaking the silence around domestic violence and creating safe spaces for survivors.
GOPIO Women’s Council Co-Chair Jayashri Chintalapudi, a former lawyer licensed in India and currently an entrepreneur, shared the story of a friend who was murdered by her husband due to domestic violence, highlighting the need for awareness about the various forms of abuse and the dangers of leaving an abusive relationship. Aparna and Jayashri called for action to prevent domestic violence and support survivors, with Aparna advocating for GOPIO’s role in this effort and Jayashri emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing the signs of abuse.
The meeting focused on raising awareness about domestic violence and exploring actionable steps to support victims. Ms. Rachana Srivastava shared a poem highlighting the importance of addressing domestic violence, and Charu emphasized the need for education and collaboration across organizations. Kumu suggested listing organizations that assist victims of domestic violence on Indian consulates’ websites, while Ms. Shweta Goyal, a researcher in Australia, discussed developing frameworks to support multicultural women facing stigma. The participants discussed potential collaborations and the role of GOPIO in supporting these efforts globally.
The meeting focused on discussing domestic violence prevention and intervention services for the South Asian community in the United States. The service organization Saahas from Southern California explained their organization’s work in preventing domestic violence through community-based initiatives, including home visits, financial empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. GOPIO Associate Secretary Vatsala Upadhyay, former president of My Family Services in the Detroit, Michigan area highlighted the need for better collaboration between organizations and suggested providing information about available resources to immigrants during visa processing. The discussion emphasized the importance of culturally competent services and data-driven approaches to address domestic violence in the South Asian diaspora.
Another participant shared her experience as a survivor of domestic violence, highlighting the ongoing nature of abuse even after separation or child custody arrangements. She emphasized the lack of resources and support available to victims and criticized organizations for not adequately addressing the serious issues faced by survivors. Vasu Pawar, another survivor, shared her story of enduring abuse while working in the US, emphasizing the importance of addressing the various forms of abuse, including financial abuse, and the need for organizations to take survivors’ problems seriously. Both speakers stressed the importance of raising awareness and providing support to victims of domestic violence.
The meeting focused on discussing domestic violence prevention and support for victims. Charu shared a personal story about a friend who experienced domestic violence but was hesitant to involve authorities. GOPIO-Orange County (California) Chapter President Hark Vasa spoke about helping a woman who had been severely beaten by her family, highlighting the challenges in accessing support from agencies due to red tape. GOPIO Life Member Yatri Shukla emphasized the importance of supporting individuals like Vasa who provide direct help to victims, despite criticism from others. The discussion also touched on the role of community members in offering shelter and support to victims of domestic violence.
The meeting also focused on addressing domestic violence, particularly affecting senior women, and discussed strategies to support victims. GOPIO Life Member Suman Kapoor from New Zealand highlighted the need for education and empowerment to tackle such situations, while Charu and others emphasized the importance of maintaining trust and connection with victims. The group discussed creating a fund under GOPIO Foundation to support women’s causes and the need for a global network of women’s representatives. The Council has also planned a Women’s Conference Webinar on March 14th to mark International Women’s Day on the topic’ Diaspora Women Scaling Educational, Political, Social and Corporate World’.
About GOPIO – Founded in 1989, GOPIO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, secular organization with Individual Life Members and chapter delegates from over 100 chapters in 36 countries. GOPIO’s volunteers are committed to enhancing cooperation and communication between NRIs/PIOs and the local communities, building networks, bonds, friendships, alliances, and the camaraderie of citizens and colleagues alike. GOPIO volunteers believe that when they help network the global Indian community, they facilitate making tomorrow a better world for the Indian Diaspora, the countries they live in and India.
