Governor applauds fight against gender based violence
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 25 2011: Inaugurating the International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence Against Women at the Banquet Hall of Ist Manipur Rifles here today, Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat has appreciated the role of Manipuri women in fighting against gender-based violence in the society.

Speaking as Chief Guest at the inaugural function, Jagat observed that the theme of this year's fortnight observation, which is 'From peace in the home to peace in the world: Let's challenge militarism and end violence against women' describes the complex relationship between peace, home and the world and recognizes many spaces where militarism influences our lives.

Pointing out that there are many different ways to define militarism, the Governor explained that the working definition outlines militarism as an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports the use of violence, aggression, or military interventions for settling disputes and enforcing economic and political interests.

"Militarism also lionises certain violent forms of masculinity that often have grave consequences for the safety and security of women.

The current world events including military interventions, femicides, attacks on civilians participating in political change, ongoing conflicts, etc, exemplify the distinctive way in which militarism influences how the society sees their neighbours, their families and public life", the Governor observed.

Governor Gurbachan Jagat lighting the inaugural lamp at 1st MR Banquet Hall

On the relevance of observing the fortnight and its theme, Jagat noted that many has been experiencing a number of cases of gender-based violence such as rape, murder, assault, molestation, kidnapping, date-rape, wife battering, girl-child trafficking and many more which happen either in the domestic sphere or in other work places.

Moreover, the life span of human beings specially HIV/AIDS infected mothers, sisters, widows and orphans are shortened due to stigma and discrimination, trauma of armed conflict and other forms of human rights violations.

It is a fact that many innocent women and girls are forced to become sex workers and drug addicts.

The Governor went on to point out that today many women-specific and women-related legislations to protect women against social discrimination, violence and atrocities and also to prevent social evils like human trafficking, dowry death, rape including date-rape and domestic violence have been enacted.

However, the implementation of such laws is still delayed due to the unawareness of the existence of such legislations and rights thereof by the people, particularly the women-victims.

In order words, there is a great need of organizing such programmes to disseminate the latest information as to how the violence against women can be prevented.

In his presidential address, Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joykumar observed that to stop violence against women in Manipuri society is becoming an important task.

Even though there is no ideal society and elimination of violence and crimes is impossible, efforts have to be made to reduce violence.

Prof Ksh Bimola of Department of Political Science, Manipur University was also present and spoke at the occasion as Guest of Honour.

The Fortnight observation is being organized under the aegis of Women Action for Development (WAD).

Governor applauds fight against gender based violence life span of human beings specially HIV/AIDS infected mothers, sisters, widows and orphans are shortened due to stigma and discrimination, trauma of armed conflict and other forms of human rights violations.

It is a fact that many innocent women and girls are forced to become sex workers and drug addicts.

The Governor went on to point out that today many women-specific and women-related legislations to protect women against social discrimination, violence and atrocities and also to prevent social evils like human trafficking, dowry death, rape including date-rape and domestic violence have been enacted.

However, the implementation of such laws is still delayed due to the unawareness of the existence of such legislations and rights thereof by the people, particularly the women-victims.

In order words, there is a great need of organizing such programmes to disseminate the latest information as to how the violence against women can be prevented.

In his presidential address, Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joykumar observed that to stop violence against women in Manipuri society is becoming an important task.

Even though there is no ideal society and elimination of violence and crimes is impossible, efforts have to be made to reduce violence.

Prof Ksh Bimola of Department of Political Science, Manipur University was also present and spoke at the occasion as Guest of Honour.

The Fortnight observation is being organized under the aegis of Women Action for Development (WAD) .