Legal Awareness Program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers
29 January 2019, Kohima
Legal Awareness Program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers at Kohima
Control Arms Foundation of India in collaboration with Naga Mothers Association organizes one day legal awareness program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers
A one day legal awareness program for women leaders and community justice workers was held on 29 January 2019 at the State Institute of Rural Development in Kohima, Nagaland. This program was organized by the Control Arms Foundation of India, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network in collaboration with Naga Mothers Association and support from Nagaland State Legal Services Authority and European Union. A total of around 40 participants attended this awareness program from different districts and parts of the state.
Most of them are women leaders from different tribes, each of them representing their own tribe. These included Eastern Nagaland Women Organization, the Watsu Mundang besides the Naga Mothers Association units.
Legal Awareness Program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers at Kohima
The program gave awareness on the topic of Domestic Violence, Sexual offences Against women, Child sexual offences (POCSO), Brief on offences, FIR, investigation, arrest, Government Welfare Schemes for Women (Central and State); Benefits and Entitlements, One Stop Crisis Centers and its importance, RTI and its importance and ended the session with sharing examples of successful best practices on empowering vulnerable and marginalized women by the team of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network.
The resource persons included panel lawyers Mr. Nathaniel Kevichusa, Mr. Limathung Ezung, Ms. Limasenla Longkumer and Mr. Vesurupoi Theyo deputed by Mezivolu T. Therieh, Member Secretary of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority.
During the session, on the issue of women’s situation in the state, Mr. Theyo remarked that “our customary law cannot override our Fundamental Rights”. Additionally, Ms. Longkumer stressed that we must remember that “Rights always go along with Duties”.
Legal Awareness Program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers at Kohima
Further, a member of the NMA shared that “Incase of any offences, be it domestic violence or sexual, most victim’s families approach their own tribe women leaders first, not only that as an organization, whenever any incidents takes place in their own areas, the women organizations try to intervene and help and guide, so we felt that every now and then it is important to impart such awareness programs to our women so that they get awareness and knowledge to tackle while helping, or counseling and guiding the victims.”
Iheilung, President of Zeliangrong Mipui Organization (ZMO) said that the seminar has really encouraged us, women to pay more attention to our ignorant society to uplift and make use of our given rights and make a better place to live in”.
They further acknowledged and deeply appreciated the organizers and resource persons for the beautiful program. Ms. Lochumbeni Humtsoe, Secretary of Naga Mothers Association stated that the training benefits all the participants to know the different forms of gender-based violence and the support structures available for victims and child protection systems. She also added that “the training taught us the new legal laws of IPC.”
Few of the recommendations shared during the session were regular functioning of different committees working on the issue of women and child rights, active members to work effectively on the aforementioned sensitive issues, easy access for women travelling from different districts.
Legal Awareness Program for Women leaders and Community Justice Workers at Kohima
* This Press Release was sent to e-pao.net by Control Arms Foundation of India - CAFI who can be contacted at cafi(DOT)communique(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Press Release was posted on January 30 2019 and updated with more photos and minor edits on January 31
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