KCBC Women’s Commission releases gender policy

06 Sep 2009


KOCHI: The Women’s Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) on Saturday released its gender policy, which includes an action plan for ensuring gender equality and the uplift of women within the Church as well as in society.

The goals of the gender policy are violence-free homes and workplaces, equal participation of women in all social activities as well as change in the mindsets of men and women to promote gender justice within families, society and in the Church.

The primary areas identified for the implementation of the action plan include education, church activities, politics, health, financial independence, science and technology and the tribal communities.

The policy suggests that March 8 could be observed as the International Women’s Day, September 8 as the Girl Child Day and November 25 as the Anti-Violence Day.

The policy also include suggestions to ensure just wages for women employees and proper allowances for the women employed in Church-run institutions as well as equal pay for equal work and land and property rights for women.

The policy also calls for the disqualification of men who engage in domestic violence, extra-marital relationships and those who are confirmed alcoholics from positions of authority in Church bodies.

The policy suggests that there should be a forum to address violence against women and the girl children in households, work places and the Church-run organisations.

The Church should also design an integrated development programme for dalit women to eradicate poverty by making budgetary allocations for its social service centres. The gender policy was released at the valedictory function of the three-day regional assembly of the KCBC Women’s Commission held at the Pastoral Orientation Centre here.

Kannur Bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal, who is also vice-chairman of the Women’s Commission, released the policy by giving a copy to Sr Lilly Francis Poovelil, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India(CBCI) Women’s Commission.

KCBC Women’s Commission chairman Mar Mathew Anikkuzhikkattil inaugurated the function. KCMS vice-president Sr Styne, KCBC executive secretary Fr Stephen Alathara, Institute of Management in Government professor Neena Joseph, KCBC Women’s Commission secretary Beena Sebastian and Rosakkutty Abraham spoke.
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