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Ending Gender-Based Violence is Critical: Breakthrough India’s Pan-Asia Summit

NEW DELHI, March 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Breakthrough India’s Pan-Asia Summit ‘Reframe’ kick-started today with an insightful discussion on what it will entail to end Gender-Based Violence in the next 10 years. The 3-day Pan-Asia summit ‘Reframe’ has brought together non-profit organizations, industry experts, thought leaders and media to discuss ways to create a future without Gender-based Violence. The summit aims to develop specific areas of advocacy for concrete guidance on prevention and redressal of Gender-based Violence and Gender Based Discrimination (GBD).
Breakthrough has been working on addressing violence & discrimination against women and girls for over 2 decades by focusing on transformation of patriarchal norms and narratives across India. The organization enables young change makers to transform themselves and others by building their leadership in making violence unacceptable.
Sohini Bhattacharya, in her welcome address, said, “The aim of this regional summit is to co-create a future agenda in the Asian context, including setting priorities, sharing of strategies for achieving and measuring progress on preventing Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination. Leveraging the opportunity provided to us with the launch of Generation Equality Forum, in 2020, advancing a shared agenda on Gender-based Violence specifically for Asia is important for two reasons. While national level advocacy is important to move national level commitments aligned to SDG goal 5, regional coalitions and partnerships play a central role to align efforts and resources at a regional level. It also enables strengthening the roll-out and implementation of a multi-sectoral response to urgently address gender-based violence; with a particular focus on women and girls in all their diversities across this vast and diverse region.”
The surge of violence has disproportionately affected those who were already most likely to experience GBV – those facing intersecting and compounding oppressions on the basis of gender, race, class, ability, sexual orientation and other characteristics. Adolescent girls, in particular, have faced a range of issues that are likely to increase their risk of facing GBV across their lifetimes, including being pulled out of school, being refused access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, and being forced to marry early, which are all risk factors for later GBV. Ten million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides by 2030.
Wangshu Lian, an LGBTI activist with Common Language and Chinese Lala Alliance, said, “Building agency and leadership are two critical components at the heart of combatting Gender-Based Violence. Feminist civil society organizations supporting marginalized communities should be empowered with agency and technical know-how to tackle Gender-Based Violence. Additionally, funding needs to be prioritized for these organizations to drive social change.”
“The experiences of the last two years during the pandemic have worsened long-standing gender discriminations. But I think there is recognition that gender-based violence is a pandemic too – even though they keep referring to it as the shadow pandemic. But there is recognition that COVID-19 has increased the vulnerability of women, girls and LBTQ+ people to violence and abuse. Some violence has moved out of physical spaces into online ones, with increased reported in cyberstalking, bullying and sexual harassment. Equally, the GBV that women, including transgender persons and girls are facing appears to be more severe and sustained, perhaps reflecting the intensity of lockdowns and increased difficulty in escaping abuse,” added Ms. Bhattacharya.
Sarah Knibbs, Deputy Regional Director, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in her address remarked, “We really need bold actions to make progress towards gender equality and to see those gains in everyone’s life. Globally, data suggests that 1 in 3 women experiences violence. The best way to end Gender-Based Violence is to prevent it from happening by addressing the root and structural causes of it.” Working with youth is the best path for sustained progress towards gender equality in eradicating gender-based violence.”
An Oxfam International analysis in 70 countries over 40 years has found that the most vital and consistent factor driving policy change has been feminist activism. Feminist movements and organizations have changed the way we think about GBV, drawing attention to the issue and stirring hearts and minds globally, while also deepening our understanding of its root causes and the interventions that are most effective in addressing it. Such organizations has been facing tremendous pressures from authoritarian regimes and regulations world over.”
Zharin Zhafrael – Co Director – Musawah, said, “Organizing a structural movement is key to addressing Gender-Based Violence. GBV needs to be tackled at all levels to build a gender-equal society. Egalitarian law and favourable family conditions are critical for economic empowerment of women in the Arab world.”
World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional estimates suggest that South Asia and South-East Asia regions have the highest rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the world, at 43 percent and 33 percent respectively. Four South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal in order of prevalence) feature among the top fifteen countries with the highest national prevalence of physical intimate partner violence as reported by the Demographic and Health Surveys. The summit is particularly significant in this context and will pave way for a gender-equal world.
Meera Devi – Bureau Chief, Khabar Lahariya – Chambal Media, said, “The voices of women and those from marginalized communities should reach the government. More often than not, their voices are silenced and they are left without any help. Making their voices heard is one way of empowering them. And this will help us significantly in addressing Gender-Based Violence.”
 

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Reliance Digital Launches ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day Campaign Celebrating the Many Expressions of Fatherhood

MUMBAI, India, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital has launched ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day campaign to celebrate the many expressions of fatherhood. Built around a simple cultural observation, while “Maa ki Mamta” has long been a part of India’s collective vocabulary, there has never been a word that captures the distinct ways fathers express love, the campaign introduces ‘Baaptaa’ as a tribute to the many shades of fatherhood.

Conceptualised as an original music-led campaign, Baaptaa celebrates fathers not as idealised figures, but as they are experienced in everyday life, protective, dependable, emotional, quirky, practical, occasionally embarrassing, and always present. Through a relatable narrative, the campaign acknowledges the countless ways fathers care for their families, often through actions rather than words.Watch Video: https://youtu.be/9XyUsJB33Ds?si=PM67vhxrzth1JEkz At the heart of the campaign is an original music video told from a father’s perspective, capturing the different roles he plays across life’s moments and milestones. The film brings to life the humour, warmth and unspoken affection that characterise father-child relationships, while giving a name to a form of love that many recognise but few have articulated.The campaign stems from a simple insight: while motherhood has often found expression through familiar phrases and popular references, the unique language of fatherhood has remained largely undefined. Baaptaa seeks to fill that gap by creating a term that reflects the everyday gestures, practical wisdom and quiet sacrifices that fathers make.Father’s Day communication often leans into familiar emotional territory, but Reliance Digital’s campaign celebrates fathers in a way that feels more culturally authentic and relatable. The idea for ‘Baaptaa’ came from a simple observation — mother’s love has been immortalised in a number of heartfelt, emotional songs, there needed to be an anthem dedicated to dad’s love. And thus was born Baaptaa – a love language that is often awkward, practical, protective, humorous and deeply felt, even if rarely verbalised. It’s a celebration of fatherhood in all its wonderfully imperfect forms immortalized by a song that you won’t be able to stop humming.Shop for the widest range of electronics at Reliance Digital and thank your father for his Baaptaa.

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Canara HSBC Life Insurance Celebrates Father’s Day with a Heartwarming Tribute to Dad Jokes

The digital film highlights how fathers express love through humour, turning everyday moments into lifelong memoriesNEW DELHI, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (“Canara HSBC Life Insurance”) today announced the launch of its Father’s Day digital film, a light-hearted and heartfelt tribute to fathers and their unique way of expressing love through humour. Celebrating the universally relatable phenomenon of ‘Dad Jokes’, the campaign shines a spotlight on the small yet meaningful moments that often become some of the most cherished family memories.

Presented in the style of a mock documentary, the film follows a sibling duo as they recount some of their father’s most memorable jokes—ranging from playful puns to classic one-liners. While the film begins with humour and nostalgia, it gradually reveals a deeper truth: behind every seemingly cringe-worthy dad joke lies a father’s sincere effort to connect, bring joy, and remind his family that he is always there for them.The campaign is rooted in the insight that fathers often express their emotions differently. Rather than through words alone, they communicate their care through everyday actions, practical guidance, shared experiences, and sometimes, through humour. Dad jokes may not always receive the loudest laughs, but they often become lasting reminders of a father’s presence, warmth, and unwavering support.Through relatable storytelling and candid family moments, the film celebrates fathers who may not always wear their emotions on their sleeves but consistently show up for their loved ones in their own unique ways. It captures how these seemingly ordinary interactions become treasured memories that families carry forward for years.Reflecting the campaign’s central message, Canara HSBC Life Insurance reiterates its belief in standing by every promise that matters. Just as fathers quietly support and protect their families through every stage of life, the company remains committed to helping customers secure their loved ones’ future and fulfil their financial commitments, truly embodying its promise of being a ‘Promises Ka Partner’.The campaign is now live across Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s X (twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram channels.IG- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZwH5IKhCzG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1cSkxsFWNY/X- https://x.com/CanaraHSBCLI/status/2067808467205918962?s=20Li- https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7473574831364468737Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997652/Canara_HSBC.jpgLogo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2739906/6008480/Canara_HSBC_Logo.jpg

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Harper Collins Publishers India is Delighted to Announce the Recent Publication of ‘People We Love’ by Preeti Shenoy

NEW DELHI, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India is delighted to share the recent publication of People We Love by bestselling author Preeti Shenoy. At once tender and sharp, this collection of stories offers intimate, truthful and relatable portraits of the people we cherish, the ones we lose, and the people we become.

ABOUT THE BOOKThe people we love never truly leave our story…In these tender yet piercing stories, Preeti Shenoy returns to some of her most beloved characters to reveal who they were before they appeared in her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have.Aniket, a coder, carries the weight of a longing for Trisha that he cannot bring himself to act on. Nidhi abandons her corporate life to teach pottery, only to discover that clay is far more forgiving than the people she loves. A quiz competition sparks an unlikely romance between Aman and Shruti, one that must withstand parental disapproval and class divides. And Anjali, a journalist, is so busy chasing stories that she almost misses the one unfolding in her own life.Set against the pulse of contemporary India, People We Love explores the tug-of-war between duty and desire, family and freedom, who we are and who we dare to be. Intimate and deeply felt, these are stories about love that stays, leaves and almost slips away … love that quietly and irrevocably shapes the people we become.Preeti Shenoy, author, says, “People We Love is a collection of three long stories, prequels to my bestsellers It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have. If you have read those books, you already know how these characters’ stories unfold. But what you don’t know yet is where it all began, the loves they carried, the choices they made, and the people they were before life shaped them into who you met on those pages. Writing these prequels felt like returning to a home I hadn’t realised I missed, and discovering rooms I had never been in before.”Rashmi Menon, Associate Publisher – HarperCollins India, adds, “Preeti Shenoy has an extraordinary gift for finding the heartbeat of ordinary lives. People We Love is a warm, wise and deeply humane collection of short stories that reunites readers with favourite characters from her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have, weaving them into fresh, deeply satisfying narratives. These characters feel like people you know, and their journeys will move, comfort and surprise you. This uplifting, thought–provoking collection reminds us why we turn to stories in the first place. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers.”ABOUT THE AUTHOR Preeti Shenoy is among the highest-selling authors in India. She was featured on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life, Is Calling, Life Is What You Make It, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All in the Planets, Why We Love the Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, an avid fitness enthusiast, and an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journalling. Preeti lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka.ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIAAt HarperCollins Publishers India, we believe in telling the best stories and ensuring they reach the widest readership. We publish around 250 new books every year across 10 imprints, adding to a diverse catalogue of more than 3,000 titles in print and digital formats, with an array of genres and voices that ensure there is a book for every reader. Our authors have won some of the most prestigious literary awards, and we are proud to publish many acclaimed writers, alongside new and emerging voices shaping contemporary literature. We are also the publishers of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Booker Prize 2008, and Girl in White Cotton by Avni Doshi, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2020, and HarperCollins India itself has been awarded “Publisher of the Year” several times. In addition, we represent some of the finest global publishers such as Harvard University Press, Lonely Planet, Oneworld, Nosy Crow, Usborne, and National Geographic Children, bringing Indian readers access to world-class books and ideas. We are also proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years, a recognition of our culture, people, and values that make HarperCollins India a truly inspiring workplace. PRESS CONTACT:Nandini Tripathi, Manager – Marketing (Commercial)Email: nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in | Mobile: +91 9718928839Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997583/HarperCollins_People_We_Love.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/4665143/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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