With the release of the three-member Justice Hema Committee report on August 19, 2024, triggering discussions on gender safe workplaces, the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) congratulates the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) for their trailblazing fight to end systemic sexual abuse and toxic work culture in Malayalam cinema. The unparalleled efforts of WCC members, even at the risk of jeopardising their own careers, deserve unequivocal support and praise.
In their fight to end gender discrimination at the workplace, WCC members faced multiple issues, including undeclared bans that prevented them from working in films and led to loss of work opportunities. Yet they remained steadfast in their commitment to ensure a safe environment for women in cinema. WCC’s unwavering stand to ensure gender justice in the film industry will be vindicated when the ongoing reforms in the Malayalam movie industry result in a more professional and equitable work environment and better working conditions with zero tolerance for sexual harassment and abuse.
WCC began its relentless fight following the sexual assault of a young actor in a moving car in Kochi in 2017. With their campaign, ‘Avalkkoppam’ (with her), the collective succeeded in creating an effective strategy to express solidarity with the actor. It was on WCC’s request that for intervention to end the rampant harassment and gender discrimination in the industry that the Government of Kerala appointed the Justice Hema Committee.
The release of the report, albeit only after several years and as a result of persistent demands, has evidently given voice to a large section of women in the industry. NWMI stands in solidarity with WCC and the women who have spoken about their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse, with several perpetrators being named, both during the committee’s hearings and over the past couple of weeks.
While it is important to expose the sexual exploitation and abuse within the industry, we believe equal emphasis should be given to other discriminatory practices such as lack of written contracts, wage disparities, absence of essential facilities like toilets and unsafe accommodation. It is important for the government, industry bodies and the media to pay attention to the full spectrum of concerns highlighted in the Hema Committee report.
We urge all organisations in the Malayalam film industry to take proactive steps to implement the recommendations of the Hema Committee, such as Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) on all movie locations and basic facilities such as safe and clean changing rooms and toilets at shooting sets.
We expect other film industries in the country to learn from the developments in the Malayalam industry and take necessary steps to address gender discriminatory practices in their workplaces as well.
We urge the Kerala government to take all necessary steps to address the many problens brought to the fore by the report, including issues of gender-based discrimination and violence. The government should provide necessary legal support to survivors of sexual harassment and abuse and ensure their protection, from intimidation and retaliatory action as well as cyber attacks.
NWMI would also like to appreciate efforts of the many journalists who took steps, including the use of the Right to Information law, to bring the Hema Committee report into the public domain.
While covering the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the report, we request the media to ensure the privacy of the survivors and handle the issue with utmost sensitivity. Trigger warning should be provided while airing or publishing reports of sexual harassment. Media persons should abstain from pressurising survivors to reveal names or pestering them to provide details of the harassment they suffered.
Report on women journalists
We urge the Kerala government to publish without further delay, the report of the Committee chaired by the late Sugathakumari set up in 2018 to study the problems of women in media and recommend actions to be taken.
The Hema Committee’s report marks a watershed moment in the history of Malayalam cinema and Kerala society. We hope workplaces across the board, including hospitals and media, pay attention and take proactive steps to improve workplace safety, security and equality in their industries without waiting for terrible crimes such as the 2017 assault of an actor in Kochi and the rape-murder of a doctor in RG Kar Hospital (Kolkota) to prompt public protests.
In this pivotal moment in the history of Malayalam cinema, WCC stands tall as a beacon of hope. It is worth remembering that they achieved it against all odds and in a hostile environment. NWMI extends solidarity to WCC as it continues to pursue justice.
The Network of Women in Media, India
3 September 2024
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