Harassment everyone’s issue, not just women, says activist Harish Iyer in Mumbai

Iyer was part of a panel that spoke about Breaking the Silence and #MeToo campaign on the second day of the We the Women convention in Mumbai

Speaking on the second day of We the Women convention, Harish Iyer, a social rights activist, said harassment was faced not only by women, but other genders too.

Activist Harish Iyer (HT File)

Recollecting his abusive childhood, he said, “Harassment is every person’s issue, we cannot think of it in binary terms.”

Iyer was part of a panel, ‘Breaking the Silence’, which discussed the #MeToo campaign and the Silence Breakers, who were awarded the Time Person of the Year.

“We live in a patriarchal society, which is why people were earlier scared to speak about these issues. With #MeToo gaining popularity, the fear is gone, people are willing to speak about harassment and abuse now,” said Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India (PFI).

She said that 38% of women face sexual abuse inflicted by their partners.

The discussions also focussed on issues faced by transgenders and sex workers, who believe they have never been accepted as part of society.

“When there is no second gender, why are you categorising us as third gender?” said Gauri Sawant, a transgender activist.

Kusum, head of All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW), said sex workers should have equal work rights too.