WCC writes to CM seeking action against violation of women's privacy

Kochi: Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) wrote an open letter to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, seeking strong action against the violation of privacy of the women workers in the Malayalam movie industry who deposed before the Hema Committee.

The letter was in the backdrop of a TV channel's report based on the statements given by actors and technicians before the committee. In the letter, the collective alleged that the "channel report raises suspicions about the actions of those who have access to the committee's report'.

"The testimonies given by women working in the film industry to the Hema Committee you (CM) appointed have now been brought under the purview of the special investigation team (of police). This has led to a situation where, despite court orders, these testimonies are being irresponsibly dragged into media trials by Reporter Channel. We met with you to express our concerns about such situations. However, the most private testimonies, which the Hema Committee, the govt, and the court decided should not be disclosed to protect the victims' privacy, are now being aired by Reporter Channel. This raises suspicions about the actions of those who have access to the committee's report."

The letter points out that the disclosed information makes it possible for the public to identify the individuals who gave the testimonies, and this act, which appears to support the victims, actually makes their lives more miserable and subjects them to severe mental stress.

Saying that the "invasion of privacy is unjust", the letter strongly urges the chief minister to "intervene immediately to stop this privacy-violating news attack". The WCC members had visited the chief minister recently to discuss the situation in the Malayalam movie industry following the release of the Hema Committee report.