Gender Advocacy Issues: The Contested Terrain in Culture and Women’s Human Rights

Dr. Shashikala Gurpur-Murphy

The focal point of this report is the study of the gender advocacy as practiced by the third sector organisations in Dakshina Kannada district of the Karnataka State . The author, in the first chapter, provides an introduction to the nature and necessity of a study on gender advocacy. Chapter 2 comprises of the concepts, objectives, methodology and questions pertaining to the study. Third chapter analyses the case study of a third sector organisation (Vedike) working on gender advocacy. It also narrates the various cases of women who fought for their rights. Comparative dimension of strategies and counter strategies forms the title of fourth chapter.  Here the strategy deviced by another third sector organisation (Samvedi) in countering the traditional power centers and patriarchy is discussed. Chapter 5 is an analysis, synthesis and critique of the current approach towards gender advocacy. Here the comparison of the strategy adopted by the two third sector organisations working for gender advocacy is examined. The report ends with conclusive observations in chapter six.