This episode's speaker is Zeba Khair. Zeba Khair is presently a member of the Supreme Court Of India Bar Association and Delhi High Court Bar Association. Ms. Khair is a well accomplished practicing advocate and litigation has been her forte. She appears extensively in various Courts and Forums like the Supreme Court of India, State High Courts, District Courts and the National Company Law Tribunal.

Ms. Khair had been sponsored as a delegate by the United States Embassy (New Delhi) on their IVLP programme to the USA, in 2011, to study the role of NGOs in promoting women’s issues. In May 2018, she was invited by University of Washington at Seattle USA for 7 Speaking engagements from subjects related to gender violence to challenges Muslim women face in the workforce - An appraisal of Muslim Women's Law against the backdrop of the Shariat. She took classes on Human Rights and also addressed law students on gender laws. In July 2018, Ms. Khair also addressed the Doughty Street Chambers, London on the topic of sexual harassment in the supply chain. In November 2019 she addressed a workshop at Paris on Intellectual Property Rights with respect to social causes, Ms. Khair specializes in cases relating to women and children. She is on the internal complaints committee of MNCs apart from engaging in conducting workshops on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (the Act). Ms. Khair has prepared modules setting out practical guidance on the implementation of the Act. This includes Modules targeted at capacity building of key employees; training of committee members, facilitating constitution of the sexual harassment committee and providing an insight into trial procedures.

Durga as a citizen sector organisation wants to build power and resilience in youth to act against sexual harassment in public spaces and also work towards a Gender Just society. Towards this, we do various strategic activities around engaging with youth in various places like colleges, schools, events, online forums, and also through active campaigning. Some of our efforts include VOICE (Gender Justice) labs in educational institutions, DAREs (Real Heroes who will be active bystanders) on streets, Unlikely Allies (with men, BMTC drivers, and Paurakarmika women) as well as social audits of public spaces that women should rightfully occupy.

To continue with this and show support to the Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, Durga launched the India Gender Equity Week leading to the first-ever virtual forum named NGAGE to bring youth and others together to create awareness on the women’s movement, the issues of intersectionality, and also solutions aligned with the constitutional rights bestowed on citizens. The Fireside Chat is a continuation of the NGAGE forum. Through the Fireside Chats, Priya from DURGA speaks to Gender Justice activists across the country on their activism and inspiration to youth to further the movement.

Do you want to know what drives a true Activist? Listen to our Fireside conversations with some of the best Gender Justice Advocates, curated only for you - to question and dissent in your own way!