The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) recently concluded a comprehensive series of workshops on “Bystander Intervention against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.” These workshops were conducted for over 460 Tibetan youths across various educational institutions, schools and colleges based in India, including the Sambhota Tibetan School in Kalimpong and Darjeeling, the College for Higher Tibetan Studies-Sarah, the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Bangalore, and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India.
Various forms of sexual and gender-based violence persistently afflict women, children, and individuals of other genders, resulting in profound physical and psychological repercussions. Tibetan women and children, in particular, are doubly vulnerable due to factors such as their legal status and limited access to resources and support services. Through a gender-informed approach, TCHRD carefully designed and implemented the workshop series to empower the Tibetan community.
The two-day workshops equipped participants with practical skills to intervene, seek assistance, and report instances of sexual and gender-based violence encountered in their daily lives. The workshops also raised awareness about socio-legal support mechanisms and fostered resilience to prevent and mitigate such cases.
TCHRD’s Executive Director, Ms. Tenzin Dawa, and Legal Officer, Ms. Phurbu Dolma, facilitated the workshop series. Additionally, TCHRD invited expert speakers, including Ms. Jamyang Lhamo, Project Officer and Advocate at the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Team, Migration & Asylum Project, and Ms. Rasika Sundaram, Founder and Director of the Imaara Survivor Support Foundation, enriching the sessions with diverse perspectives and specialised knowledge.
Through these workshops, TCHRD strides towards empowering Tibetan youth to actively combat sexual and gender-based violence. By equipping participants with practical skills and fostering community resilience, TCHRD endeavours to cultivate a safer and more supportive environment for all individuals of all genders within the Tibetan community.
