EMN
DImapur, October 18
Nagaland Alliance for Children and Women Rights (NACWR) organized the second State level consultative meeting at Kyong Baptist Ekhumkho Samrhyutsü, KBES, Vankosung, Wokha, on October 16 on the theme “Protect child, Save future’ and attended by church leaders, NGOs workers, and representatives from organizations for children and women from different districts of Nagaland.
In his keynote address, Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, A Robin Lotha, urged all organizations present to take the theme of the meeting as their mission in all their activities. He shared about the different shortcomings in the society when it comes to parenting and bringing up children.‘We always speaka of children as the future but children are not enjoying and living their rights. The basic needs, the emotional needs, safety and security of children was not given much importance in our present society,’ he pointed out. He reiterated asserting that protecting and ensuring a safe environment now for children is a requisite for saving our future. While appreciating the effort of NACWR, Robin Lotha said he was honoured to be present in such consultative meet regarding children and women rights, which is a happening phenomenon in society.
NT Kikon, Director of Wondang – Ki Foundation and Vice President of NACWR, invited all organizations present to be more proactive in their approach towards child and rights. ‘We talk of change. However, we cannot expect others to change for us nor to bring change for us. The change should come by instilling and initiating the change in the lives of our children which they will see and make it a part of their lives’, asserted Kikon in his presidential address.
Ms. Wanchibeni Patton, Judicial Magistrate, Wokha, requested the organizations to look at other implications behind the issues of child right and women rights.
‘No problems exist in isolation and many of the child right issues are generated from the actions of the adults’, she pointed out. She highlighted the issue of ineffective governance, the availability of contraband and abusive substance, the low socio economic situation of the people and strings of other problems which could manifest in the form of abuse of child rights and women rights.
‘It is an imperative duty of every right thinking person not to address child and women issues alone but to address all the ills of our society while focusing on child and women rights,’ she added.
Resource persons, Ms Limasenla Longkumer and Ms Esther K Aye from Dimapur District Legal Aid Services and legal advisors to NACWR presented on different acts and legal provisions for the welfare of children and women.
Ms. Limasenla explained the legal provisions mentioned in the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, 1986. She pointed out the abject conditions or absence of shelter homes to take care of trafficked victims in the districts of Nagaland. ‘Shelter homes should be an environment where the victim get care attention, counseling and constructive reinforcement to help the victims reintegrate back into the society. NACWR along with other organizations should ensure that the provisions are implemented and provided in act,’ she said.
Ms Esther K Aye spoke on women rights and enumerated the different constitutional provisions for the protection of women rights. Speaking at length on Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, she pointed out the passive attitude of the Naga society to the problem of domestic violence although the attitude is alarming. She explained the legal provisions under the act and also urged to women to be aware of their rights and their entitlement. She also presented the legal provisions under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Ms K Ela, Director of Prodigals Home and Advisor of NACWR, strongly stressed on the importance of monitoring and caring for the welfare of children. She narrated incidents and happenings where our own children were misled and exploited due to lack of parental and societal intervention. She requested everyone present to put their heart and mind into the consultation and come out with a positive action plan – a way forward.
The consultation was chaired by Jenpu Rongmei, president of CAN Youth and information secretary of NACWR. The welcome address was delivered Robin Ezung, Coordinator of NACWR, Wokha district, while pastor Yanger Chang pronounced the vote of thanks.
The consultation meeting concluded with the institution of NACWR Wokha Chapter with 12 member representatives from different churches, civil societies and different organizations.
