GUWAHATI, AUGUST 26: Women's role in peace processes and ensuring their participation as decision makers in peace negotiations must be recognised by both the central and state governments, Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) Secretary General Binalakshmi Nepram said today.
"Women's role in peace processes and ensuring their participation as decision makers in peace negotiations along with present and post conflict reconstructions must be recognised and a resolution to this effect was taken at the just concluded Second North East India Women Peace Congregation," she said.
The Congregation, attended by women activists and community leaders from North East, also appealed to all ethnic groups and communities in the region to rise above the greater common goal of peace and prosperity for all.
Nepram pointed out it was also decided that the Centre must make a sincere effort to find a political solution to the armed conflict in Northeast India and urged for formulation of National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security.
The Congregation has also demanded that non-state armed groups as well as state agencies end human rights abuses and violations of laws of war against civilians.
The women activists urged non-state armed groups to cease using landmines, cluster bombs, other bombs and various forms of attack in a manner that does not discriminate between military objectives and civilians.
It was also decided that all women must work on a shared vision, through re-establishing relationships, networking and interacting with other workers in the regional, national or international level.
The Congregation decided there was need to examine deployment of specially designed 'stability units' to build coherence between the security, socio-economic development and public safety needs of disturbed areas.
These 'stability units' would approach the problem of civilians in disturbed areas from the perspective of developing public access to justice, minority and women rights, human and socio-economic development.
The activists agreed upon to ensure representation of more women in decision making bodies at national, state and local levels and as a beginning they should actively seek for whatever reservation they have in the Legislative Assemblies, panchayats and other local forums.
It was agreed to develop area-specific strategies and plans for prevention and responding to Sexual and Gender Based Violence in conflict affected areas.
The two-day Congregation also prepared the draft on National Action on Women, Peace and Security along with a draft idea for women in political decision making.
The Congregation was organised under the initiative of Control Arms Foundation of India, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and North East India Women Initiative for Peace.
