“WAKE UP WALK” in major cities from 20th to herald ‘national movement against assaults on women’  

Eminent public figures, sports and film icons likely to join

            "Your daughter could be the next to be molested. You could be the next father/brother  to die defending your daughter/sister's honour,” warn Walkathlon organisers 

Chandigarh, Dec.14: In a bold initiative to stop assaults on women in the country, the well-known Patiala-based NGO, Punjab Today Foundation, this afternoon announced the start of a major nation-wide awareness  movement against what it called the "collective guilt of society" against girls and women.,

The movement would be flagged off with a ‘WAKE UP WALK (Conscience Walk)  on Dec. 20, 2012 to coincide with the International Day for Human Solidarity. The walk will start  after performing ARDAS at the Holy precincts of Sri Darbar Sahib at Amritsar and  would travel through all districts of Punjab and later reach the national Capital for the next phase. 

A signature campaign will also be launched on the sidelines of the Walk, which will culminate in Delhi where a joint appeal by hundreds of thousands of countrymen to the Chief Justice and other honourable judges of the Supreme Court. The appeal would highlight the need for quick disposal of cases pertaining to atrocities and harassment of women in the state and the country and to put in place some special, dedicated women-specific courts/benches headed by women judges only, given the sensitivity involved in such cases. Similar appeals would also be submitted to the Chief Justices of High Courts in all the states and Union Territories of the country.

Giving details of the movement, Kanwar Manjit Singh, the CEO of the Punjab Today Foundation, said here today that the movement would enlist the support of eminent social activists, members of the Civil Society, intellectuals, human rights, civil liberties and right thinking political organisations and individuals. Mr Singh said that recent incidents in some parts of the country, including Delhi, Haryana, Mumbai and Punjab had sent shock waves among all conscientious people in the country about the status, safety and security of mothers, sisters or daughters .

 He said that as the main motive of this Walk was to awaken the spirit of togetherness in our society hence citizens of all walks of life are requested to spare a few minutes to join this movement. He requested intellectuals, thinkers, social workers, media-persons, religious leaders, policymakers, professionals, businessmen, employees, workers of all political parties and students to support and participate in this initiative.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Punjab Today Foundation.
Punjab Today Bhawan
C-179, Focal Point, Patiala
Tel : 91.175.223.2382 Cell : 9814.231.777

e-mail : punjabtoday@gmail.com