Gender-based violence victims exhorted to speak up
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, December 07 2022: Human Rights Defender (Indigenous perspectives) Nandini Thokchom has said that gender-based violence and sexual harassment of women is a pervasive problem across the state but unfortunately, many victims do not know where to turn for help.

"In some cases, victims fail to speak up due to fear of losing their earning avenues with many such cases occurring in unorganised sectors where they work as daily wage earners or labours", Nandini stated, while speaking as resource person during an awareness programme on gender-based violence with special reference to the sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013 organised by One Stop Centre (OSC) Ukhrul at DRDA training hall, mini secretariat on Tuesday.

Pointing out that many women victims are unaware of their rights or where to get help due to lack of awareness or fear of losing their earning avenues - especially those in unorganised sectors, she emphasised the need to educate victims of sexual harassment at their workplace on their rights and provide them with accessible reporting mechanisms so that they can seek justice.

She said that a safe environment should be ensured for all employees in workplaces in both organised and un-organised sectors so that female victims can speak up without fear of retribution or loss of income.

Nandini Thokchom, who is also state resource person for Manipur Rural Livelihood Mission (MRLM), observed that failure on the part of the victims to speak up embolden the perpetrators to carry on their crimes with a sense of impunity.

She continued that the scenario of gender-based violence and sexual harassment of women at workplaces has not changed in the state, even though the Act was promulgated in 2013."It is a shame that we still talk about gender-based violence and sexual harassment of women today - the same issues we discussed years ago", she lamented.

She then expressed concern over the lack of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) in most workplaces in the state, adding that as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, it is mandatory for any workplace with more than 10 workers to set up an ICC.

Maintaining that much needs to be done to address the prevailing issues of gender-based violence and sexual harassment of women at workplaces, she called for effective implementation of the act in right earnest.

Speaking on the occasion, DC Krishna Kumar noted that despite constitutional rights to equality, issues of gender discrimination continue to prevail.

He urged for a mass mobilisation effort to put an end to this discrimination and suggested parents and teachers take up more responsibility in ensuring the safety and protection of women from such violence.

In her keynote address, Chonchuirinmayo Luithui, central administrator of OST Ukhrul, highlighted that the awareness programme was initiated to create awareness and provide support to victims of gender-based violence and sexual harassment of women at workplaces to ensure a brighter future for our women.

She said that the OSC scheme is being implemented since April 1, 2015 and is providing integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress, both in private and public spaces under one roof.

It also facilitates immediate, emergency and nonemergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, temporary shelter, police assistance, psychological and counselling support to fight against any forms of violence against women.

Soso Shaiza, advisor to the National Commission of Women (NCW), called for a reversal of the trend of gender-based violence, which has seen a 26 per cent rise in crime against women in India over the past six years.

She also recalled how she initiated action against 6 cases of sexual harassment in Manipur during her tenure as member at NCW in an attempt to address this worrying trend, leading to a successful delivery of justice.

In his speech, SP Ningshem Vashum noted that many crimes against women tend to go unreported in the male-dominated society, and advocated for greater awareness at the grassroots level so as to prevent such incidents.

He also stressed on the need for setting up of Internal Complaint Committees/ Cells in all workplaces which would help address sexual harassment issues.

SDO LM block A Rohini Kumar highlighted different aspects of provisions under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act 2013.The programme concluded with a public discussion and vote of thanks toasted by Wontimla Kashung, case worker cum counsellor at OST Ukhrul.

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