Group of feminist lawyers offers assistance to victims in filing complaints

A collective of feminist lawyers in Kerala has offered support to survivors of sexual exploitation in the light of the Hema Commission report, which has revealed several incidents of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. Following the publication of the report last week, the Kerala government said it would take legal action against the accused if survivors lodge formal complaints. The collective has come forward to offer its services by guiding women who want to proceed legally through the process and addressing any doubts or concerns they may have.

“Often people do not come forward out of fear and confusion and because they do not know the intricacies of the law. Some women are also worried about protecting their identity while others may not want to approach a male lawyer. All of them are women in our collective. We would like to provide legal guidance and emotional support and reassure them that their complaints will be acted upon in a timely manner, all for free,” says advocate J Sandhya, a member of the collective.

About 20 lawyers from across Kerala, who are also activists, are part of the collective. Those who want to use their services can contact them via email at: [email protected]

A few women have come out publicly about the sexual harassment they faced in the Malayalam film industry after the Hema Committee report came out, which has already had an impact on the industry, leading to the resignation of two powerful figures from key posts – senior actor Siddique as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists and renowned filmmaker Ranjith as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. However, no formal complaint has been filed by any of the women yet.