Priyanka Chopra Instagram – Final post from my @unicefindia trip. Silence was natural to them. As was fear— of abuse, of ridicule, of being ostracised. So they bore their abuse in silence.   There’s always been a need for a comprehensive approach towards preventing & responding to all  forms of violence against women. Alongside the prevention, the need for a framework for someone to hear & support the needs of the survivors of violence has also been imperative.   This is where the One Stop Centres (OSC), are a step in the right direction. These centres facilitate immediate, emergency & non-emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological & counselling support under one roof to fight against any form of violence against women.   I visited the OSC at Ashiyana, Lucknow, which is now a role model not just in Uttar Pradesh but across India.  What centres like these are doing is breaking through decades of conditioning & beliefs that women are undeserving of their own rights or having a life outside of their homes, husbands or fathers. The conditioning is so deep that even women believe this of themselves!   About 80% of the violence that a lot of women face (this was a statistic given to me) is within their own homes with relatives, fathers, brothers & the like.   The women I met at this centre were rescued & are now taking control of their own lives. They are being educated, while some even have jobs. This is commendable because their stories are so brutal & heart breaking… it’s hard even for me to share. From being raped by their fathers & uncles, to being kidnapped & used as a surrogate without consent, to being repeatedly tortured… they have lived through so much.   These survivors found the courage & determination to change their circumstances because of the support they received from the OSC.   What I feel deeply about is the belief that the birth of a girl is a “burden”  — this desperately needs to be challenged & changed. Initiatives like the OSC and these fearless women are leading this much needed change.   The need of the hour is more such fearless women and more such centres to right the wrongs for women across the country.