Issue of violence against women in Nagaland remains elusive

November 26, 2024 1 View No Comment

Weak enforcement of laws, institutionalised social bias in way of Elimination of Violence Against Women

Chümoukedima/Dimapur, November 26 (MExN): The state level programme, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2024 was held in Chümoukedima. Jointly organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission, and the district administrations of Dimapur and Kohima, the event also marked the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Nayi Chetna 3.0. The event theme was ‘Unite to End Violence Against Women.

The Secretary of Social Welfare, Martha R Ritse was the special guest. As per a DIPR release, in her address, Ritse noted that despite annual commemorations, significant progress remains elusive to the issue of violence against women in Nagaland. As revealed by data from the Women Helpline Nagaland and One Stop Centres, domestic violence emerged as the most frequent form of violence reported, followed cyber violence.

While she acknowledged advancements in legal frameworks and policies globally, she highlighted weak enforcement and deeply ingrained discriminatory social norms as significant concerns. She connected this issue to Nagaland’s Vision 2030, aligning it with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG#5 on gender equality, stressing the need to tackle the root causes of violence, including harmful societal norms and patriarchal structures. The role of Mission Shakti’s Sambal component in supporting survivors through initiatives like the Women Helpline and One Stop Centres was also emphasised.

Dr Tinojongshi Chang, DC Dimapur, provided a comprehensive definition of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), encompassing physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. He highlighted the underlying causes as unequal power dynamics, patriarchal values, societal structures and legal loopholes that leave women vulnerable. He detailed four categories of GBV: physical, sexual, psychological, and economic, with specific examples illustrating each. He advocated for a comprehensive long-term strategy, including stringent anti-violence laws, robust monitoring mechanisms, public awareness campaigns and legal aid for victims. He also stressed the need for further research into the prevalence and dynamics of GBV in Nagaland.

DC Chümoukedima, Polan John, welcomed participants, underscoring the gravity of violence against women as a fundamental human rights violation that hinders progress towards equality and peace. Additional Secretary Bodeno S Colour outlined Mission Shakti’s comprehensive approach to women’s safety, security, and empowerment. Joint Secretary Imtimenla presented the objectives of Nayi Chetna 3.0, a national campaign against GBV promoting gender equality. The event concluded with a site visit by the Social Welfare team to facilities supporting women’s empowerment.

In Dimapur, the day was jointly observed by the Dimapur Police Commissionerate, Sisterhood Network and Sankalp-District Hub for Empowerment of Women and Sakhi-One Stop Centre and the Dimapur district administration.