On-Screen Violence Against Women And Girls Need Disclaimers Too

On-Screen Violence Against Women And Girls Need Disclaimers Too

Started
3 September 2019
Petition to
Prasoon Joshi (Central Board of Film Certification) and 1 other
Signatures: 248,905Next Goal: 300,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Mahika Banerji

Smoking and drinking are not ok but hitting a woman is absolutely fine.

That’s the message you get when you watch a film in India today. 

Because when actors are shown smoking cigarettes or drinking on our screens, health advisories and statutory warnings immediately pop up in the corner alerting us against the hazards. Many of us even look out for the advisory when we notice something drinking/smoking. 

But when a person is shown terrorising a woman onscreen and hitting her while claiming to love her, we don’t see any trigger warnings.

Ironically, both these scenes played out in the recent hit film Kabir Singh. When some of us took to social media to and objected to the glorification of violence, we were dismissed saying “violence on women is normal” and “how else will a passionate man show that he loves a woman.” 

For me these justifications are bizarre and unacceptable! What kind of a world are we living in? Violence shouldn’t be celebrated and normalised. Particularly when crimes against women - be it newborn girls or elderly women - are on the rise, each crime more brutal and horrific that the last. 

I want to change this mindset and apathy for violence with my petition. I believe that having statutory warnings on-screen everytime gender-based violence is portrayed is a simple but powerful way to change public perception and spread awareness. 

After all, what we see in films deeply impacts our minds. There are so many studies and surveys that confirm this. I am not asking for a ban, but an advisory!

Sign my petition asking the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to make it mandatory for movies depicting and referencing violence against women and girls to carry disclaimers and a public service announcement on screen – both in cinema and on television.

It would make a huge difference if: 

  • A disclaimer is displayed at the beginning of the film stating that these acts of violence are strictly punishable as per our laws and violate fundamental human rights
  • A 30-second public service ad condemning all forms of violence is broadcast before the film or during the interval.

I believe that having a disclaimer and a public service announcement in films that comprise gender-based violence is a simple but powerful way to change public perception and spread awareness

Help me #RedrawMisogyny by signing and sharing my petition today.

Support now
Signatures: 248,905Next Goal: 300,000
Support now
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Decision-Makers

  • Prasoon JoshiCentral Board of Film Certification
  • Prakash JavadekarMinister of Information and Broadcasting Ministry