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June 28, 2011
Indian group warns women joining 'SlutWalk'
AFP - June 28, 2011 8:03 AM
Protesters during a Slutwalk march for the right of women to wear what they want without harassment
on June 25, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Photograph by: Hannah Johnston, Getty Images
A right-wing group warned Tuesday that "India will not tolerate" women intending to wear skimpy clothing and march in the country's proposed first "SlutWalk".
"SlutWalks", which have become a global phenomenon to protest sexual violence, sees scantily attired women march to challenge the mindset that victims of sexual assault should be blamed for the crimes against them.
A spokesman for the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) told AFP: "India will not tolerate anything that crosses the limits of our culture.
"In any case, India already offers women a lot of respect so I am unclear about the purpose of this event."
The march, scheduled to take place in New Delhi, has already been postponed once from earlier this month and a new date has not been confirmed.
Although organizers have changed the name to a tamer-sounding "Besharmi Morcha" (Shameless Front) and asked women to wear their everyday attire, the VHP warned participants against donning western-style clothing.
"They will not be welcome if they march wearing western clothes, Indian society will not accept it," the VHP spokesman said.
Leering and harassment are a daily menace for women in the capital and a woman is raped on average every 18 hours, according to the latest police figures.
A government-backed UN survey last year said about 85 per cent of Delhi's women are perpetually scared of being sexually harassed.
"SlutWalk" was first held in Toronto this year after a police officer caused outrage by stating during a speech to university students that women should avoid "dressing like sluts" in order not to be victimised.
The global protest soon spread to more than 60 cities where women joined in huge numbers.
© Copyright (c) AFP
source: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Indian+group+warns+women+joining+SlutWalk/5017021/story.html
Indian group warns women joining 'SlutWalk'
AFP - June 28, 2011 8:03 AM
Protesters during a Slutwalk march for the right of women to wear what they want without harassment
on June 25, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Photograph by: Hannah Johnston, Getty Images
A right-wing group warned Tuesday that "India will not tolerate" women intending to wear skimpy clothing and march in the country's proposed first "SlutWalk".
"SlutWalks", which have become a global phenomenon to protest sexual violence, sees scantily attired women march to challenge the mindset that victims of sexual assault should be blamed for the crimes against them.
A spokesman for the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) told AFP: "India will not tolerate anything that crosses the limits of our culture.
"In any case, India already offers women a lot of respect so I am unclear about the purpose of this event."
The march, scheduled to take place in New Delhi, has already been postponed once from earlier this month and a new date has not been confirmed.
Although organizers have changed the name to a tamer-sounding "Besharmi Morcha" (Shameless Front) and asked women to wear their everyday attire, the VHP warned participants against donning western-style clothing.
"They will not be welcome if they march wearing western clothes, Indian society will not accept it," the VHP spokesman said.
Leering and harassment are a daily menace for women in the capital and a woman is raped on average every 18 hours, according to the latest police figures.
A government-backed UN survey last year said about 85 per cent of Delhi's women are perpetually scared of being sexually harassed.
"SlutWalk" was first held in Toronto this year after a police officer caused outrage by stating during a speech to university students that women should avoid "dressing like sluts" in order not to be victimised.
The global protest soon spread to more than 60 cities where women joined in huge numbers.
© Copyright (c) AFP
source: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Indian+group+warns+women+joining+SlutWalk/5017021/story.html