Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 10
A three-day training workshop on ‘Locating women’s human rights in international standards’ got underway at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on Tuesday. The programme is being organized by North East Network for participants from diverse backgrounds such as NGOs, CBOs, journalists, lawyers and educational institutions who are engaged in issues of social justice from different parts of the northeast India. MG Sreekala, an independent consultant and international trainer on Gender and Human Rights, is the resource person at the programme.
On the first day of the workshop, the participants were elucidated on the fundamental concept of basic human rights and the systems of oppression.
Sreekala explained the difference between rights that are granted by a State and human rights, which are inherent. She said though human rights basically apply to all people in principle, there are some who are more vulnerable to these rights due to artificial division of human rights in the form of civil political rights and economic social rights.
Stressing the need to do away with such artificial divide, she asserted that human rights are interrelated and interdependent and thus there has to be a combination of all rights. She also pointed out the importance that human rights should not be hierarchical and cited the example of cases of violence against women. She lamented that in the indigenous context, customary laws overpower the rights of women when cases of violence against women are raised.
Also, she said in general context, there are many reports of law enforcers refusing to register or take up women related cases as well as (women) victim blaming approaches from sections of the society.
“This shows that there is tolerance for the violence,” Sreekala said, adding, that such “tolerance” takes away the intrinsic human right from the victims. She highlighted the need for people to recognize and application of the basic human rights.
The participants were assessed of their knowledge and awareness of these human rights. Group discussions and interactions on recognizing different kinds of oppressions relevant to the participants’ area of specialty were also part of the first day of the training workshop.
The objective of the three-day NEN workshop is to increase the participants’ understanding of the UN Human Rights standards and mechanisms in relation to women’s well being. The programme is also expected to highlight State obligations to reduce discrimination of women through the framework of Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and build skills in monitoring and documenting violations.
The participants will sit through a session on International Women’s Human Rights Standards and application of CEDAW.
