Latest news with #Equimundo
The Guardian
24-03-2025
- The Guardian
‘Shifting the shame': the young gang-rape survivor spreading awareness on sexual violence
When three men were sentenced to 25 years each for the gang-rape of a teenager in north-eastern India in 2017, the impact on their home village was profound. For 14 months between the attack and the verdict, the community ostracised, threatened and vilified the survivor's family as they pursued justice for 13-year-old Kiran* – a story captured in the Oscar-nominated 2022 documentary To Kill A Tiger. But the landmark ruling led to an immediate cultural shift in the rural community. Neighbours who had told Kiran's father, Ranjit, that he should marry his daughter off to one of her rapists to avoid bringing dishonour to the village admitted they were wrong; men and boys stopped taunting and objectifying women and girls. 'The severity of the sentence left the men of the village shaken; they felt it in their souls. It gave them a hard lesson in how they should behave as men and toward women,' says Ranjit, who still lives in the village in Jharkhand with his wife, Jaganti, and three younger children. 'They have changed how they are around women and how they see women and girls; the level of safety has improved.' Seven years on from the court case, Kiran is 21 and in the third year of a five-year undergraduate course majoring in Hindi. She loves fashion and dancing – and hopes to become a police inspector. 'I would be the first woman police inspector from my village and that's really important,' she says. 'I want to give back to the community – and I want to be different.' Her ambition and fearlessness has rippled through the village and inspired other girls to follow in her footsteps and continue their education, and dress how they want. Now she is using her influence as a spokesperson for #Standwithher, a global gender justice initiative launched in New York this month following a screening of To Kill A Tiger, hosted by UN Women and attended by Kiran, Ranjit, the film's director, Nisha Pahuja, Ziauddin Yousafzai – the father of the Pakistani activist Malala – and the directors of Equality Now and Equimundo. 'The campaign is about being there for the survivor and listening to their story and making sure they have resources and encouraging them to speak about themselves,' says Kiran. 'I hope to reach more people and spread awareness of the issue [of gender-based violence]; and that the legal system should encourage survivors to come forward.' Pahuja, who founded the campaign, says the goal is threefold: to support survivors and survivor organisations; to work with men and boys to understand that 'patriarchy is a prison'; and to create an anti-gender-based violence curriculum that will reach up to 50,000 schools in the US before expanding globally. 'I knew this story had the potential to unite people,' says Pahuja. 'What Kiran achieved was shifting the shame – she moved the shame to where it belongs.' The screening was held during the Commission on the Status of Women where the UN secretary general António Guterres warned that women's rights were under siege globally. 'A surge in misogyny, and a furious kickback against equality threaten to slam on the brakes, and push progress into reverse,' he said at the opening ceremony on 10 March. It was the first of 25 screenings to be held across nine US cities over the next two months. Pahuja says the campaign is starting in the US because 'this is a global issue. I wanted to ensure that was the messaging around it – that this happened in a small village in India but the barriers to justice and the stigma of shame, misogyny and patriarchy are all global.' After touring the US Pahuja, Kiran and her father will return to India where Kiran will join the Orange Ribbon Survivor Coalition, a group being set up to challenge the social and cultural taboos that prevent many from reporting sexual violence in India. The name of the group is inspired by the ribbons Kiran is seen tying in her hair in the opening scene of To Kill A Tiger. In the film they are a symbol of her innocence and youth. Today, they have become a symbol of her strength. Kiran says that watching her younger self in the film is 'difficult' but she also sees how she has grown as a person. 'All that has happened in the last eight years has helped me find a sense of identity and freedom. I know how I want to spend my time, who I want to be friends with. I feel comfort in knowing who I am.' Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion Asked how she found the strength as a 13-year-old to go first to the police, and then to trial, in the face of intimidation and harassment, she says: 'The situation forces you to become strong. I realised that if I didn't take a step forward no one else would. Coming from a space of weakness I wouldn't be able to continue. My strength came from knowing I needed to protect myself.' She adds that her parents were also steadfast in their support, something Yousafzai acknowledged during the post-screening Q&A. 'This family filled my heart with huge respect for them. Ranjit is a man all men should be proud of, the father all fathers should look up to,' he said. Globally, 736 million women – almost one in three – have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, and every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed. In India, a woman is raped every 16 minutes, and 80% of such cases go unreported. Lopa Banerjee, the director of the civil society division in UN Women, who introduced the film, said that in this context stories of equality and justice were needed more than ever. 'To Kill a Tiger is set in India but exists everywhere.' In one scene in To Kill A Tiger, after Kiran has given her testimony in court, the pressure and fear that have been etched on her father's face for most of the film are replaced with relief and pride. He smiles for the first time. Seven years later his pride in his daughter is just as strong, whether she is speaking on a global stage or visiting his village. 'No one else was wearing jeans [before she started],' he says, 'then the girls starting following her style. If they see her wearing loose pants, everyone else copies her. She is like an icon.' *Kiran is a pseudonym
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel Launch Anti-Gender Violence Campaign Behind Nisha Pahuja's Oscar-Nominated Doc ‘To Kill a Tiger'
Executive producers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel are lending their star power to global impact campaign #StandWithHer, inspired by director Nisha Pahuja's Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill a Tiger.' Launching on Wednesday in New York City, the campaign aims to combat gender-based violence worldwide through a partnership between Pahuja and NGOs Equality Now, Equimundo and MenEngage Alliance. More from Variety A Teenage Kate Hudson Shadowed Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss. Now She's Playing a Comedic Version of Her in Netflix's NBA Sitcom 'Running Point' Annual South Asians at the Oscars Party, Co-Hosted by Mindy Kaling, Leads to 'Friendship and Community Building' Kate Hudson Basketball Sitcom 'Running Point' Is an Easy Layup, But Could Work on Its Long Game: TV Review 'Gender-based violence is a global crisis, yet too often, it remains hidden in the shadows,' Chopra Jonas said in a statement. 'I am honored to support the #StandWithHer campaign, inspired by Nisha's powerful documentary 'To Kill a Tiger,' to help drive meaningful change.' The documentary, which is streaming on Netflix, chronicles the story of Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India, who fights for justice for his 13-year-old daughter after she is sexually assaulted by three men. Despite facing social ostracization, death threats, economic hardship and caste prejudice, the family perseveres and ultimately secures a landmark ruling. The #StandWithHer initiative has established three key goals: empowering survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence to seek justice; creating a culture of shared responsibility that encourages men and boys to become allies; and preventing gender-based violence through education and social narrative change. The campaign will kick off with a U.S. screening tour of 'To Kill a Tiger,' spanning major cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington D.C. A screening in New York will coincide with the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with UN Women. Pahuja, whose film has won 29 awards including recognition at Toronto, Palm Springs and a 2024 Oscar nomination for best documentary feature, shared her vision: 'As filmmakers, we understand the power of story, especially documentary, and its singular ability to unite people around an issue. The eradication of sexual violence and GBV needs the commitment of all of us.' The campaign will collaborate with over 60 partners and aims to create educational initiatives that will reach 1.2 million students across 25,000-50,000 U.S. schools within two years. Patel said: 'This is one of the most important stories in modern Indian history, and with this campaign, we can really start to see and understand its capacity to empower and serve as a catalyst for change.' Added Kaling, 'This campaign is one crucial step towards a world free from gender-based violence, a world we deserve and will fight for to see in our lifetimes.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel Launch Anti-Gender Violence Campaign Behind Nisha Pahuja's Oscar-Nominated Doc ‘To Kill a Tiger'
Executive producers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel are lending their star power to global impact campaign #StandWithHer, inspired by director Nisha Pahuja's Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill a Tiger.' Launching on Wednesday in New York City, the campaign aims to combat gender-based violence worldwide through a partnership between Pahuja and NGOs Equality Now, Equimundo and MenEngage Alliance. More from Variety A Teenage Kate Hudson Shadowed Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss. Now She's Playing a Comedic Version of Her in Netflix's NBA Sitcom 'Running Point' Annual South Asians at the Oscars Party, Co-Hosted by Mindy Kaling, Leads to 'Friendship and Community Building' Kate Hudson Basketball Sitcom 'Running Point' Is an Easy Layup, But Could Work on Its Long Game: TV Review 'Gender-based violence is a global crisis, yet too often, it remains hidden in the shadows,' Chopra Jonas said in a statement. 'I am honored to support the #StandWithHer campaign, inspired by Nisha's powerful documentary 'To Kill a Tiger,' to help drive meaningful change.' The documentary, which is streaming on Netflix, chronicles the story of Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India, who fights for justice for his 13-year-old daughter after she is sexually assaulted by three men. Despite facing social ostracization, death threats, economic hardship and caste prejudice, the family perseveres and ultimately secures a landmark ruling. The #StandWithHer initiative has established three key goals: empowering survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence to seek justice; creating a culture of shared responsibility that encourages men and boys to become allies; and preventing gender-based violence through education and social narrative change. The campaign will kick off with a U.S. screening tour of 'To Kill a Tiger,' spanning major cities including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington D.C. A screening in New York will coincide with the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with UN Women. Pahuja, whose film has won 29 awards including recognition at Toronto, Palm Springs and a 2024 Oscar nomination for best documentary feature, shared her vision: 'As filmmakers, we understand the power of story, especially documentary, and its singular ability to unite people around an issue. The eradication of sexual violence and GBV needs the commitment of all of us.' The campaign will collaborate with over 60 partners and aims to create educational initiatives that will reach 1.2 million students across 25,000-50,000 U.S. schools within two years. Patel said: 'This is one of the most important stories in modern Indian history, and with this campaign, we can really start to see and understand its capacity to empower and serve as a catalyst for change.' Added Kaling, 'This campaign is one crucial step towards a world free from gender-based violence, a world we deserve and will fight for to see in our lifetimes.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UN Global Compact calls for Women's Economic Inclusion at Business Leadership Dialogue during Commission on the Status of Women
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Global Compact, in partnership with UN Women and the Champions of Change Coalition, today concluded a high-level Business Leadership Dialogue, convened on the margins of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). The gathering united over 50 business leaders, policy experts and change-makers to accelerate private-sector commitments toward women's economic empowerment by 2030. The event marked three significant anniversaries for global gender equality efforts: 30 years since the establishment of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 25 years since the founding of the UN Global Compact 15 years since the creation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Despite decades of progress, on average, women are paid about 20 per cent less than men, according to the International Labour Organization leading to significant lifetime income inequality. At the current rate it will take 134 years to close the global gender gap. Yet companies with diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to outperform their peers. During the dialogue, participants examined how businesses can apply a gender lens across the value chain by creating gender-responsive supply chains and directing capital to women-owned businesses, engage male allies and advocate for policy enablers to bridge persistent gender gaps worldwide. Conversations focused on: Invest in Women Initiative: The UN Global Compact spotlighted its Invest in Women initiative designed to increase capital flows to women-owned businesses and champion gender-inclusive investments, urging companies to align their investment and procurement strategies with gender equality objectives. Business leaders also shared successful case studies on how they have embedded a gender lens into supply chain operations, emphasizing that doing so unlocks diverse markets, fosters innovation, and reinforces stakeholder trust. Male Allyship: In a fireside chat featuring the Champions of Change Coalition and Equimundo, speakers highlighted effective approaches for mobilizing men in leadership positions to champion gender equality and women's economic inclusion, with a focus on culturally attuned, scalable programs. The UN Global Compact also launched its new knowledge tool – "Mainstreaming Male Allyship: an Action Guide for Business," developed in partnership with Equimundo. Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC): This dialogue dove into the extensive implementation that ABLC members have driven on the Gender Statement. It also explored the progress that ABLC member companies are advancing across sectors and geographies on the continentsince launching a historic Gender Statement in Kigali, Rwanda in May 2024, demonstrating how regional coalitions can drive global transformation. Forward Faster initiative & the WEPs: Businesses were called on to commit to the Forward Faster initiative—targeting equal representation, participation, and leadership of women at all levels by 2030—and to sign on to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which provide a comprehensive framework for embedding gender equality across the workplace, marketplace, and community. "Accelerating women's full participation is not just a moral imperative, it's an economic one," said Melissa Powell, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and 25 years of the UN Global Compact, we have never been closer to a true tipping point. By investing in women-led enterprises, championing male allyship, and building equitable supply chains, businesses can lead the charge on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030." Following the dialogue, attendees participated in roundtable discussions and committed to sharing key insights across their networks. Companies are encouraged to join or deepen their engagement with the Forward Faster initiative and the WEPs, setting measurable targets to close leadership and pay gaps, and to implement policies that champion inclusivity at every level. About the UN Global CompactThe ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 63 Country Networks covering 80 countries and 13 Country Managers establishing Networks in 18 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE United Nations Global Compact
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
#StandWithHer: Oscar-Nominated ‘To Kill A Tiger' Inspires Worldwide Gender Justice Campaign
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nisha Pahuja is partnering with major NGOs to launch a global gender justice campaign inspired by her acclaimed documentary To Kill a Tiger. The #StandWithHer initiative, supported by Equality Now, Equimundo, and MenEngage Alliance, announced three principal goals: 'Empower survivors of sexual assault and GBV [Gender-Based Violence] to seek justice; create a culture of shared responsibility, inviting men and boys to become allies; and prevent GBV through education and social narrative change.' More from Deadline Mindy Kaling's 20-Somethings Hulu Comedy Gets Series Order As She Re-Ups Warner Bros. TV Group Overall Deal 'Anuja' Director Adam J. Graves On Creating An Empathetic Tale Of Two Sisters In Oscar-Nominated Short 'Rabbit Trap' Review: Dev Patel Tampers With Ancient Magic In Bryn Chainey's ASMR Folk Horror - Sundance Film Festival The vision for #StandWithHer is built on what the campaign identifies as 'four integrated pillars': Public Awareness and Mobilization, Political Advocacy, Education and Prevention, and Media and Social Media campaigns. To Kill a Tiger, executive produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling among others, tells a story of remarkable courage from a rural part of India's Jharkhand state. Ranjit, a farmer, and his wife Jaganti bravely stood behind their 13-year-old daughter Kiran (a pseudonym used to protect the teenager's identity) after she became the victim of a violent sexual assault by three young men. Kiran's parents refused to bow to intense pressure from their neighbors who demanded the couple marry their daughter to one of her attackers and drop their case against the assailants. In a statement, Pahuja said of the #StandWithHer campaign, 'For the past few years, my team and I have been working tirelessly toward this moment-supported by partners, organizations, and thinkers who've been at the forefront of gender rights for decades. As filmmakers, we understand the power of story, especially documentary, and its singular ability to unite people around an issue. The eradication of sexual violence and GBV needs the commitment of all of us. And, it needs those sparks around which we can all gather – first, to simply envision a different world, and then, the roadmap to help create it. With To Kill a Tiger, we have a powerful tool – the power of Ranjit's love and the wisdom and courage of his daughter Kiran, are those rare elements around which movements can form and the seeds of change planted.' #StandWithHer will kick off with at least 40 in-person screenings of To Kill a Tiger around the U.S., a tour that will include stops in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington DC. 'Each event will be followed by conversations with Pahuja, the film's participants, gender rights activists, legal and political experts, and Executive Producers,' notes a release. 'The courage and resilience shown by Kiran, her father, and their family in their fight for justice—despite the odds stacked against them—shine a light on the deep-rooted inequalities that still exist worldwide,' E.P. Priyanka Chopra Jonas said in a statement. 'Gender-based violence is a global crisis, yet too often, it remains hidden in the shadows. I am honored to support the #StandWithHer campaign, inspired by Nisha's powerful documentary To Kill A Tiger, to help drive meaningful change. This campaign is a reminder that love, when fearless and unwavering, has the strength to transform the world.' Fellow E.P. Dev Patel said, 'I am so proud to see the impact of To Kill A Tiger grow beyond the screen with the launch of the #StandWithHer campaign. This is one of the most important stories in modern Indian history, and with this campaign, we can really start to see and understand its capacity to empower and serve as a catalyst for change.' E.P. Mindy Kaling commented, 'The #StandWithHer campaign embodies what has always been at the heart of Ranjit, Jaganti, and Kiran's mission, when they fought for justice for Kiran in the wake of her sexual assault, and the incredible filmmaker Nisha Pahuja's mission when she amplified their story of bravery and hope on-screen. This campaign is one crucial step towards a world free from gender-based violence, a world we deserve and will fight for to see in our lifetimes. I am so proud to support this campaign and the survivors across the world who inspire us every day by risking their lives to fight for justice for themselves and to advocate selflessly for others.' The #StandWithHer campaign will move internationally in September, with over 75 in-person screenings now planned. 'To ensure the long-term sustainability of the impact campaign,' a release says, 'Blueshift Education and Roco Films will create and distribute a comprehensive curriculum inspired by To Kill a Tiger. In two years, the curriculum will reach 1.2 million students in 25,000-50,000 schools across the U.S.' The impact campaign is being led by much of the same all-women team who spearheaded To Kill a Tiger's awards push, which culminated with an Oscar nomination despite the film having no U.S. distribution until Oscar Sunday last March, when the documentary made its debut on Netflix. #StandWithHer will be collaborating with over 60 partners, including Equality Now, Equimundo, MenEngage Alliance, ValorUS, the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, South Asian SOAR, BlueshiftEducation, Roco Films, Object&Animal, Prism Entertainment, and Product of Culture. The campaign is produced by Notice Pictures Inc. According to UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women, an estimated 736 million women 'have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older)… 'Most violence against women is committed by current or former husbands or intimate partners. More than 640 million women aged 15 and older (26 per cent) have been subjected to intimate partner violence.' Among those voicing strong support for the #StandWithHer campaign is Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founder of The Malala Fund, and father of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. 'To Kill a Tiger is an inspiring real-life story with the power to shake the foundations of deeply-rooted patriarchal norms,' he said. 'Against all odds, Ranjit's unwavering conviction to support his daughter in the face of political and social pressure, is remarkable. He represents the kind of man all men should be proud of, and the kind of father all men should aspire to be. Kiran—true to the meaning of her chosen pseudonym—is more than a ray of hope; she is the sunshine of a new dawn of equality and human dignity as she shifts the burden of blame and shame from the victim to the perpetrators.' Alluding to the family's successful attempt to prosecute Kiran's assailants, Ziauddin Yousafzai said, 'The historic court decision reinforces a vital truth: rape is not a stain on the innocent victim but an ugly mark on an unjust society. Kiran and her father wield the tools of social, political, and legal systems against the tiger of ruthless patriarchy.' Best of Deadline How Jon Gries' Return To 'The White Lotus' Could Shape Season 3 Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? 'Verity,' 'Reminders Of Him' & 'Regretting You' Will Join 'It Ends With Us' 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Arrive On Max?
