Online | The State, Sex and Sexuality in South Asia

The event

Patriarchal values and sexist ideologies are rife in South Asia and are reflected in the legislature of the countries in this region. Discriminatory practices entrenched in societal norms- shaped by religion, culture, class and income- have contributed to the rising rates of sexual harassment and gender-based violence. While in recent years there has been a shift toward increased visibility and validity accorded to the rights of women and LGBTQ+ peoples, such as with the repeal of Section 377 in India which criminalised homosexual relations, South Asia continues to remain one of the most dangerous regions for these communities. The efficacy of the formulation and enforcement of laws that regulate sexual assault and self-determination offer inadequate protection to women and often completely exclude certain groups such as cis-gendered men, and transgender and non-binary people. The talk will focus on this interaction between the law, gender identity and sexual autonomy in the unique cultural and socio-political context of South Asia. The presentations will provide insight into how legislation and legal tools can be instrumentalised to tackle gender bias and secure fundamental human rights, regardless of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The speakers

• Dr Rukmini Sen (Professor of Sociology at the School of Liberal Studies at the Ambedkar University, Delhi (AUD))
• Dr Rama Srinivasan (Author of the text ‘Courting Desire: Litigating for Love in North India (Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts)’ and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice)
• Dr Svati Shah (Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst)Sahana Karthik (Chair, UCL South Asian Legal Forum)

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