Over 100 individuals write to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for action in accordance with women rights standards during COVID-19 emergency

Over 100 individuals committed to women’s and transpersons’ human rights have written to the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, urging him to act in accordance with women rights standards in his government’s response to COVID-19, especially in the context of the painful aftermath of the riots in North East Delhi and the humanitarian crisis that has followed the announcement of the lockdown..“..we wish to remind you that it is obligatory on the government to do due diligence in upholding standards of international law and state policy must not magnify existing gender inequality or force women and transpersons along with other marginalised communities into a greater humanitarian catastrophe. The challenges posed by COVID-19 must also take into account lived experiences of women, girls and transpersons.”the Letter reads..Signatories to the letter include Advocates Vrinda Grover and Anubha Rastogi. .It is urged that the free testing in the public and private sector be made available for all poor and deprivileged, especially all women, gender & sexual minorities and children in Delhi, including those who do not have a travel history or proof of address..The signatories also seek strict action against any form of police excess on women and gender & sexual minorities, as well as a detailed memo on action taken by the State Governments with respect to the mass displacement of women migrants and children, and transpersons..Some other suggestions/proposals in the letter are as follows:- A protocol and comprehensive measures for ensuring the health of all health and women relief workers working in mohalla clinics (including ASHA workers or ANMs) must be worked out and implemented without any further delay.- Set up a task force to assess the problem women doctors, nurses and hospital staff, as well as the para medical workers. These include discrimination, evictions and even rape threats.- The women doctors, nurses and staff should be provided safe accommodation, assured health insurance, safe transport and home care assistance.- Create a fund for women scientists and researchers to be able to work on discovering a cure for COVID-19.- Set up helplines and short stay homes for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence for survivors wanting to escape abuse conditions during the lockdown.- Counsellors must be made available for women to call to deal with the violence and stress of the lockdown.- Set up a legal aid panel for cases of rape, cruelty and abuse that may be considered on urgent basis by courts during the lockdown- Delhi government must provide free education to all girls in schools and women in colleges, from dis-privileged backgrounds for a year as the lockdown may result in increased drop outs and families forcing women to get married instead of pursuing studies and careers.- State government should make it clear that COVID-19 afflicted are not impure, contagious or populations that have to be treated as “termites” who must be “disinfected” to contain contagion.- The Delhi government must advertise that the law on prevention of atrocities may be applicable in cases identifying the contagion with people from the North East.- There should be no tolerance for Islamophobic speech or practices of boycott, ostracisation or any other degrading practice that attributes the virus to entire communities of Muslims- Sexist language such as the use of Lakshman Rekha, is offensive to us for it places the burden of patriarchal discrimination on all women.- Identify that abortions are essential and emergency services.- Supply of condoms, pills and sanitary napkins be available to every woman as part of ration supplies.- The State government must ensure nutritious meals for pregnant women, health checks for pregnant women, supply of medicines and health care for pregnant women and provisions for safe deliveries.- A helpline for Muslim women preferably run by Muslim women must be set up given the fact that many Muslim neighbourhoods remain vulnerable to police harassment, and lodging of criminal cases.- The Delhi government must recognise the grave risk to all dalit women, children and transpersons including safai karmacharis, and all caste communities in the sanitation sector (formal and informal).- Special provisions for domestic workers, daily wagers, sex workers, single women, elderly women, widows such as food deliveries, essential commodities delivery and access to health.- Provide extra financial and mental health support for families caring for children with disabilities.- Announce a gender budget for meeting the challenges that women and transpersons face during this health emergency.."..this is a plea that governments engage with marginalised communities and include them decision making and recognise diversity in leadership. We appeal to you to recognise that lockdown outside the framework of health rights, women’s rights and human’s rights has created a mammoth humanitarian crisis that must not be treated only with a framework of policing and punishment. We hope that the Delhi government will take our proposals in a constructive spirit and help the women and gender & sexual minorities in the city in these times of crisis.", the letter urges. .Read the letter: