Hindu-American community supports equitable roles of women and men in building healthy families

10 March, 2013

On International Women's Day (IWD), the Hindu American Seva Charities (HASC) - a civil society organization in US - launched the 'Hindus United against Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse' awareness campaign. The campaign was meant for Dharmic value of gender equality (samata) in all aspects of Hindu-American community, said Anju Bhargava, HASC Founder on organisation's website.

To galvanize Hindu-Americans to observe IWD, the HASC kicked off their awareness campaign by placing posters at the Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center in Morganville, New Jersey; Hindu Center of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Maryland.

"Women are a source of strength and support in all communities. We are proud to be part of this pioneering initiative for the Hindu community," said the organizers of the poster development project.

HASC believes firmly in supporting the positive and equitable roles of women and men in building healthy families and communities. Accordingly, it is working on strengthening the communities on the local level in empowering them with self-empowerment tools through its initiatives like Shakti Seva to maintain self-sustaining and independent lifestyle.

HASC also networks with other organizations to strengthen women and address issues such as domestic violence to bring more awareness of programs to advance gender equity, health and education outcomes within the targeted population.

According to HASC, the new Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of US is most effective tool in addressing and preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. "With 1 in 4 women experiencing severe physical violence by an intimate partner, and nearly one in every five women being raped in her lifetime in the United States alone, the reauthorization of VAWA is needed now more than ever,” stated HASC.