The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was observed at old NST Kohima with the theme “Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.” The event also marked the commencement of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which will run until Human Rights Day on December 10.
During the event, Guest Speaker DGP Rupin Sharma, IPS spoke on the critical importance of equality in ensuring fair treatment for all. He called on men to acknowledge and honor the diversity among people, emphasizing the significance of gender equality.
Sharma emphasized the need for greater representation of women, particularly pointing out the underrepresentation of women in the Nagaland police force. He expressed his commitment to increasing women’s participation in the law enforcement agency. Sharma also underscored the deep understanding of discrimination that comes from experiencing it, connecting it to the prevalence of violence against women and children. He attributed these challenges to deeply ingrained traditional mindsets and societal beliefs that portray women as inherently vulnerable.
“It is vital to shift away from the mindset of authority over anyone and recognize the efforts of women to assert their strength and independence. There is a critical need to acknowledge that the world does not operate in this manner and to create opportunities for women to establish their own autonomy. Any form of physical abuse is unequivocally unacceptable and should be reported to the authorities with a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of violence,” stated Sharma.
He also emphasized the importance of confronting domestic violence, despite the challenges related to family honor and structure. “It is crucial to take a firm stand against any form of domestic violence, whether involving a spouse or a child, and to report and stop such incidents. Establishing a collaborative mechanism with social justice and other relevant departments for reporting and documentation is essential not only for legal action but also to provide professional counseling and access to effective support services,” stated Sharma.
Additionally, he pointed out that while prayer, fasting, and religious teachings can offer moral guidance, undergoing psychological counseling is equally important to gain a comprehensive understanding and awareness. Upholding respect for each other’s bodies, personal space, values, and opinions is also crucial in addressing these issues.
In his brief speech, IAS Kumar Ramnikant, the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, brought attention to the prevalence of silence in the face of violence against women. He noted that the issue extends beyond just the victims, encompassing their families, neighbors, organizations, and the community as a whole. Ramnikant emphasized that the problem is not limited to a specific locality and acknowledged that while there have been some improvements, progress has been slow. Using the theme of ”invest,” he stressed that the focus is not solely on financial contributions but also on making a commitment and dedicating time and energy to address the issue. Ramnikant underscored the need for a collective effort, pointing out that a significant number of women have experienced abuse, most of which has been overlooked, and called for a shift in this pattern.
He stressed the significance of transforming mindsets, especially among the younger generation, and advocated for educating male children. Although Nagaland may not have high levels of violence against women, Ramnikant highlighted, the issue persists in other regions. He also warned against exposing children to violent content. Additionally, he emphasized the availability of helpline numbers for women and children, specifically mentioning the dialing numbers 1098, 181, 9485239098 and many others which are available.
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Martha R. Ritse, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare who delivered the keynote address highlighted that Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most prevalent, pervasive and systematic human rights violation in the world affecting more than the estimated 1 in 3 women and continues to be mostly unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.
“This year’s campaign theme calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls,” said Ritse highlighting that violence against women is an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfiliment of women and girls’ human rights.
The promise of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that of our State Govemment’s commitment in the Vision 2030 for Gender Equality andleaving No One Behind- cannot be fulfilled without first putting an end to violence against women and girls.
The solution to end this menace lies in robust responses at various levels: At the central level, the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India is collaborating with the Ministry of Women & Child Development and several other relevant Ministries in observing theNayiChetna, 2.0, a community-led campaign against gender-based violence from 25 November to 22 December which symbolically aims to link violence against women and human rights, and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation.
Ritse added that Nagaland too has joined the rest of the world in commemorating this significant day at the state level, thereby launching the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, which will be observed in the districts,headed by the Deputy Commissioners as Chairperson of Mission Shakti, in carrying forward the agenda with the Beti Bachao Bet Padhao, District Hubs for Empowerment of Women and the One Stop Centre teamsin conducting sensitization and awareness programs.
Dr .Theyiesinuo Keditsu Indigenous Feminist, Poet, Academic & Educator lead the poetry reading while Mengu Suokhrie and Lenen Jamir delivered special performances during the event.
This program was organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland State Commission for Women, State Hub for Empowerment of Women and BBB- District Administration, Kohima.
