Nagaland launches campaign against gender-based violence

KOHIMA — Commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Nagaland launched a 16-day programme against gender-based violence at Old NST, Kohima, on Saturday.

The theme of the occasion for this year is ‘UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girl!’

Addressing the gathering at the event, Director General of Police (DGP), Rupin Sharma, batted for equality in all forms while urging to respect the differences.

The DGP disclosed that in Nagaland Police, there is no 33 reservation for women and that they consist of about 10 to 12 per cent in the department.

He also admitted the state police have become “handicapped” in women-related issues because of the shortage of women personnel in the department.

Towards this, he said the department is trying to increase the numbers of women personnel up to 15 to 20 per cent. “In this way, women police can handle violence against women and children because they are the best to address the issues. It is those who have been discriminated against would understand the issues better,” he said.

Stating that abuse against children or wives are not isolated cases in Nagaland, Sharma insisted physical abuses be reported to the authorities.

Not reporting the cases encourage the abusers to keep committing the same habits, he added.

The DGP further said that there is a need to develop mechanisms, in co-ordination with departments, to document instances of abuse in order to correct the habits of the abusers. This, he said is “not necessarily to punish abusers but to put them in institutions like counselling”.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, said that in the Naga society, there is silence on gender-based violence from not only the victims, but also the families, neighbours and even law enforcement agencies and women organisations.

However, he shared that things are slowly changing, while calling upon everyone including the legislators to put in more effort to address the issue.

Citing data, Ramnikant said that one-third of women in the world might face some kind of violence and that maximum have been ignored, which needs to be changed.

“This is all about changing one’s mentality and it is equally important to educate male children as well,” the DC said.

Secretary of Social Welfare, Martha R Ritse, also joined the launch of state-level 16-day ‘activism against gender based violence,’ which will be observed in all the districts. The campaign will culminate on Human Rights Day on December 10.

Ritse said this year’s theme calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls.

Violence against women is an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as fulfilment of women and girls’ human rights, she added.

Other highlights of the event included special performances by local artistes Mengu Suokhrie and Lenen Jamir, poetry reading by poet, academic and educator, Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu.

Representatives from various women organisations and groups also participated in the event, organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland State Commission for Women, State Hub for Empowerment of Women and BBBP- District Administration, Kohima. The signature campaign to end violence against women was led by Rupin Sharma.

Also read: Awareness drive on gender-based violence held in Wokha