Relevance of Women's Day
Time for action to end violence against women
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 08, 2013 -

The whole world is observing International Women's Day on Friday, March 8 with an aim to alleviate the status of women, provide safety against violence and enable their participation in the global economy.

While many countries and organisations observe this day under different themes, the United Nations is also organising the day under the theme: A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.

It is a day to reflect on the progress made by the women, to call for changes and celebrate the accomplishments, courage and determination made by the women community around the world and their extraordinary role in the development of their countries or communities.

It is a day to create awareness on the roles of the women, their rights and provide them safety measures against any form of violence.

The history of International Women's Day goes back to 1975, the International Women's Year, when the United Nations observed the day on March 8. Two years later in 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

However, it first emerged from the activities of labour movement at the beginning of 20th Century in North America and across Europe.

Today the International Women's Day is gaining momentum with different countries standing for gender equality and calling for united efforts to curb violence against women and any form of gender discrimination.

Unfortunately, violence against women is a rising crime throughout the world with seven out of ten women becoming victim of gender-based violence. United Nations Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet in her message quoted, “One of the greatest challenges of our times, violence against women and girls affects up to seven in ten women worldwide. Occurring in multiple forms in all countries and settings, it impacts women and their communities, hampering development, and also costing countries billions of dollars annually in healthcare costs and lost productivity”.

In India too, the recent gangrape of a paramedical student in the national capital, who later passed away at a Singapore hospital, created uproar throughout the country with the people demanding special provisions to protect the women from such violence and discrimination.

The situation in Manipur is no exception with violence against women rising day by day. Rape of minor girls and women, killing women after being raped, domestic violence which even kill innocent housewives or resulted in committing suicide, have become common scenario in Manipuri society today.

While only a few of the victims have come forward to get justice, many are spending their lives in misery hoping for a day when their misery will be over and a new sun rises in their lives.

On the other hand, with more and more youths of the state becoming addicted to drugs and intoxicants, different forms of domestic violence have become more like an inseparable part of many homemakers.

With the ever increasing violence, women in the state are living with constant feeling of insecurity.

In such a situation, people need to take a pledge to face the threat against the life and chastity of women and raise their voices to stop such crimes.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we should not forget the struggle of Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been on indefinite fast for more than 12 years now as the Governments, both at the State and the Centre, are turning a blind eye to the public demand for repealing the draconian Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958, which gives excess power to security personnel without questions being asked.

AFSPA may have been imposed to counter the problem of insurgency, but the truth is that it is women who suffer the most under this military.

It is good to hear that nation-wide Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign is to kick off from Chennai in support of the struggle of Sharmila to coincide with the International Women's Day.