Professor Divya Jindal-Snape | University of Dundee, reflected on the progress within academia. She has seen changes in policies etc. in terms of getting it right. Educating people and helping them understanding of what their rights are and where those rights help in raising awareness, however, awareness is one thing. Alongside the awareness people need to feel strong and able to stand up for their rights. That strength comes from feeling independent emotionally and psychologically, and in being economically independent. As a society, we need to be able to provide a platform where people can then actually be able to ask for their rights, not just be aware of them. It’s really important that we speak up for those who don’t feel able to assert their rights, a point emphasised by Professor Divya Jindal-Snape | University of Dundee. Continuing the conversation, she reinforced the importance of open communication, being open minded and listening to each other and respectfully listening to them and have open conversations. One example is in the organizing of these seminars, as a way that we might start opening more discussions.

Blog post written by Dr Seemab Farooqi and Di Cantali