HYDERABAD: “Consent must be specific, freely expressed and respected at every stage. Silence should never be mistaken for agreement. A yes to one thing does not mean yes to everything else,” said TG ACB director general Charu Sinha during the ninth edition of the #StandWithHer panel discussion on ‘Everyday Consent, Desire and Mutual Decision-Making’ at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University on Saturday.
Emphasising that consent is about asking rather than assuming, she said agreement to one interaction does not imply consent to another and everyone must have the freedom to refuse without fear or pressure.
The discussion brought together writer-directors Hasith Goli and Ram Jagadeesh, senior journalist Abhinay Deshpande, and doctoral researchers Gadha and Debomita. It was moderated by senior journalist Uma Sudhir.
The panelists discussed gender stereotypes, social conditioning, personal boundaries and the importance of respecting individual choices. They stressed that consent is neither permanent nor unconditional and can be withdrawn at any time.
The year-long #StandWithHer campaign promotes gender equality and encourages meaningful conversations on social issues through monthly panel discussions, according to Sinha.
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