Fortnight observance on violence against women kick starts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 25 2011: Women Action for Development (WAD) has kick started the International fortnight observance on violence against women with an inaugural function held at the banquet hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles today.

Governor Gurbachan Singh Jagat, Manipur Police DGP Y Joykumar Singh and Prof Ksh Bimola Devi of Department of Political Science of Manipur University were the chief guest, president and guest of honour of the opening function respectively.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said that this year's theme describes the complex relationship between peace, home and the world.

He said, the theme gives a chance to explore the social structure which promotes and perpetuate violence against women and girls.

Analysing the relationship between violence against women and militarism, Gurbachan said that there are different ways to define militarism.

The Governor defined militarism as an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports, use of violence, aggression and enforcing economic and political interests.

He added that militarism also lionise certain violent forms of masculinity that often affects the safety and security of women.

In this regard, the Governor sought attention of the people to exemplify the initiatives taken up by the Centre for Women's Global Leaderships for their multi-year campaign under the theme, 'The Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women' which was launched last year.

The Governor also highlighted the importance of organising such events which disseminates information on how the violence against women could be prevented.

In his presidential speech, Y Joykumar Singh mentioned about the higher status enjoyed by Manipuri women in comparison to their counterparts of other States.

He said that some cases of violence against women are resulted from women themselves.

The DGP also expressed concern over the unnecessary use of mobile phones by women and young girls which he mentioned it as one of the factors for increase in the rate of crime against women.

A coordination effort among law enforcement agencies, NGOs and common people is highly needed to mitigate the issue from the State, he added.

In her keynote address, Secretary of WAD, Sobita Mangsatabam said that this year's observance is the first collaborative venture taken up with different NGOs, CBOs and POs.

Saying that the fortnight has been observing since 2003, she said that this year's observance would continue till December 13 .

Mentioning the theme of this year's observance as 'From Peace in Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women', she said that peace and harmony start from individual level and home environment.

In spite of having great women achievers in the State such as MK Binodini, MC Mary Kom, Irom Chanu Sharmila and mountaineer Anita Devi, the women of Manipur across all ethnic communities are still chained with strict social norms, she added.

Sobita further stated that women in Manipuri society have faced adverse consequences of abuse of intoxicants, HIV/AIDS and prolonged armed conflict situation.

As a result, she added, many women have been victimised sexually, culturally, socio-economically and politically.

There have been numerous cases of gender based violence such as rape, murder, assault, molestation, kidnapping, rape-murder, dowry death, wife battering, forced abortion, girl child trafficking and many more happening either in the domestic sphere or in work place.

She informed that from January 1 till December 15, 13 rape cases, two rape and murder cases, 17 suicides, five murders, 17 rape attempts and 13 assault cases of women were reported in the media.

In addition, she added, a total of 71 women have been reported missing and another five reported abandoned by their male spouses.

She also said that around 60 per cent of women are tortured by their male counterparts in Manipur.

During the function, different victims of violence against women also shared their ordeal.

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