Event Start Date: August 17, 2025

Event End Date: August 18, 2025

Event Venue: Hotel KKM International, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

“Together for a Safer Tomorrow”

 

Venue: Clan Chamber Hall, Hotel KKM International, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

 

VAWG Workshop at Thiruvananthapuram

The Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, with support from the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, is conducting a nationwide study titled “Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)” in India. The project aims to assess the current landscape of VAWG, identify key challenges and policy gaps, and propose strategies to strengthen institutional responses. Through a multifaceted campaign, it will engage stakeholders—including civil society, NGOs, law enforcement, the judiciary, and community groups—to enhance coordination, share best practices, and promote effective, sustainable approaches to prevention, response, and recovery.

 

As part of its engagement efforts, CPPR organized a two-day workshop on Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms Combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Thiruvananthapuram on 17–18 July 2025. It brought together diverse stakeholders to examine systemic challenges, share regional and institutional insights, and collaboratively develop strategies to strengthen responses to VAWG. The interactive sessions focused on technical, policy, and implementation aspects, facilitating knowledge exchange and practical solutions through expert-led discussions and group activities.

 

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AGENDA

 

Thursday, 17 July, 2025

09:30 a.m. — Registration Opens

10:00 a.m. — Inaugural Ceremony

• • Welcome Remarks: Dr D Dhanuraj, Chairman CPPR 
  • Inaugural Address : Ms Haritha V Kumar IAS, Director, Women and Child Development Department (WCD), Government of Kerala
  • Remarks: Ms Ajeetha Begum IPS, DIG, Thiruvananthapuram City
  • Remarks: Ms Jeanne Briganti, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Chennai
  • Vote of Thanks: Ms Jofi J Francis, Senior Associate (Project Administration), CPPR

11:00 a.m. — Tea Break

11.15 a.m — Introduction to the Project and Research Findings by CPPR Team

11.45 a.m. — Session 1: US Best Practices in combating VAWG

Speaker: Ms Anjali Guntur, Director of Programs, Raksha Inc., Georgia, USA

12.45 p.m. — Session 2: Expert Views on Institutional Challenges in Combating VAWG in Kerala

Speaker: Dr Gita Gopal (Special Advisor, Gender at CPPR)

1.15 p.m. — Lunch Break

2:00 p.m. — Group Discussions on Thematic Areas 

• • Group 1: Institutional Capacity Challenges 
  • Group 2: Improving upon Complicated Processes leading to Re-victimisation of Women/Enhancing Trust in the Governmental Processes 
  • Group 3: Strengthening of Interdepartmental and External Collaboration and Coordination
  • Group 4: Strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism
  • Group 5: Legal Bottlenecks and Reforms

3.15 p.m. — Coffee Break 

3.30 p.m. — Group Work Presentation on Thematic Areas 

4.30 p.m. — Critical Feedback and Comments by Experts 

• • Dr Mini Sukumaran, Member, Kerala State Planning Board
  • Dr Peeja Rajan, State Coordinator (Kerala), UN Women, India
  • Ms Brinda Adige, Director, Global Concerns India, Bangalore, Karnataka

5.10 p.m. — Day 1 Concludes

Friday, 18 July, 2025

9:00 a.m. — Registration opens

9:45 a.m. — Day 1 Recap by CPPR Team

10:00 a.m. — Session 1: Strengthening Institutional Governance – Tool Kit for Improving Processes and Outcomes 

Speaker: Prof U Vindhya, Former Professor of Psychology, and Deputy Director with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad                           

11.00 a.m. — Coffee Break 

11:15 a.m. — Session 2: Introduction to Initiatives combating VAWG: A Kudumbasree  Approach

Speaker: Dr B Sreejith, Programme Officer, Kudumbashree

11:45 a.m. — Session 3:Cyber Safety for Women and Girls

Speaker: Ankit Asokan IPS, Superintendent of Police (SP) for Cyber Operations, Kerala Police

12:45 p.m. — Lunch Break 

1.30 p.m — Session 4: Health Based Intervention for Combating VAWG

Speaker: Dr Jithesh V, Executive Director, State Health Systems Resource Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala 

2:30 p.m. — Session 5: Combating VAWG in Kerala: “Bodhyam” Story

Speaker: Ms Bindu V  C, Managing Director, Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation

3.00 p.m. — Session 6: Panel Discussion on “Bridging Gaps, Building Systems: A Roadmap to Address VAWG in Kerala”

Panellists:

• • Ms Bindu V C, Managing Director, Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation
  • Ms Bindu Gopinath, Additional Director, WCD
  • Adv Sandhya J, Sakhi Women Resource Centre, Kerala
  • Wg Cdr Ragashree D Nair, Co-Chair and Group CEO, Medicaid Ethos Pvt Ltd
  • Dr Divya Kodoth, Resource Person (Fellow), Gender Park, Trivandrum
  • Dr Reshma Elizabeth Thomas, CEO, Equgit Solutions Pvt Ltd, Trivandrum 

Moderator:  Dr Gita Gopal, Special Advisor (Gender Studies), CPPR

4:15 p.m. — Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks by D Dhanuraj, Chairman, CPPR

4.30 p.m. —  Evening Tea and Snacks, Day 2 Workshop Concludes

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PRESS RELEASES

English Press Release

Malayalam Press Release

 

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