Public Affairs and Social Issues (PASI)
Violence is central to patriarchy, and the forms of systemic violence are interconnected. The Public Affairs and Social Issues (PASI) Department works towards studying community conditions affecting women and girls and stimulates action for their betterment.
Public Affairs and Social Issues (PASI) is also a part of the association which makes it a social force for the extension of the Kingdom of God through faith-driven action and advocacy. It works on public issues vital to girls and women for betterment of society. Hence all its activities are centred on this area.
YWCA under the banner of PASI participates in a big way with issues relating to the society along with NGOs working on women’s issues from all over India. PASI participates in generating awareness about the most important issues impacting the society.
PASI has tried to draw the attention of the public and the Government towards the Women’s Reservation Bill on 33% reservation for women in Parliament in the past. The YWCA of Delhi in solidarity with the women of this country mobilized support for this very important bill. The students and the staff from YWCA attended this rally in big numbers and marched to Jantar Mantar in an effort to question the Government as to why this issue was not being considered in the Lok Sabha. This rally was a joint effort by representatives from all over India and organisations like CBCI, JWP, Jagori, Centre for Social Research, All India Women’s Conference, AIDWA, NFIW, YWCA of India and YWCA of Delhi.
For the benefit of the Youth enrolled in Women’s Training Institute workshops have been conducted on the theme prevention of sexual harassment since 2018 on the topic of ‘Safe Spaces for Women.’ Ms Rita S Aggarwal, HoD of Youth and PASI department with Ms. Namrata counselor of YWCA being the facilitators. The workshops were held for several batches of students who attended this empowerment program. Over 1000 youth of the Women's Training Institute have benefitted from this program so far.
PASI also did workshops for the community women and girls in the rural belt of Najafgarh. Interactive workshops on Domestic Violence Act 2005 were held in the centres of Deenpur, Dhansa, Karampura and Roshanpura. Over 100 women from a very patriarchal social set up attended this Women Empowerment Programme.
Dr.Indu Agnihotri from Centre for Women’s Development Studies was successfully conducted for men and women employed at YWCA. Article 14 of Indian constitution, equal rights and opportunities for men and women, unequal sex ratio and discrimination of women in economic, cultural and property rights were the highlights.