Women’s right is human right: NWC

 

Dimapur, December 1 (MExN): The Nagaland Women Commission (NWC) has stated that violence against girls and women begin after birth and continue throughout their lives into old age.
“She is discriminated against men ever since she opened her eyes into the world. Not only that, today’s latest technologies like ultrasound tests, amniocentesis and other such facilities are being used to discriminate her existence even in the womb of her mother and has to face the consequence of being female even before birth. When she survives, violence is perpetrated on her making her life even more miserable,” the NWC lamented in a press note issued by its chairperson Sano Vamuzo.     
The NWC in the note also quoted the United Nations’ definition of violence against women - “Any act of gender based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual and mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life”.
It mentioned that violence against women occurs both inside and outside her home. Studies reveal that the most common form of violence against women is physical, sexual and emotional abuse by her husband or intimate partner. It also added that even outside marriage, women continue to suffer from the hand of men and society all because women are not men and termed it as “gender biased”.
Relating the issue to Naga society, it stated that Naga women are not an exception, adding that, “we have our share of suffering in various forms mostly because ours is a patriarchal society. Our women are experiencing all forms of violence inside and outside their homes.”
It also went on saying that there is so much of discrimination in the society that women have to struggle hard to come out of her “social bindings”.
Moreover, it stated that violence against women is on the rise and that most of the Naga women are experiencing - Rape, murder, lashings, coercion, threat and intimation, trafficking etc. It further added that most of the time cases are not reported either for “family prestige or for fear”.
Related to it, the NWC in the note claimed: “Of late, reports are coming that threat with gun with dire consequences would be perpetrated to the victims if cases are reported and come to light.”             
It also claimed that the government, NGOs, Church etc. are making efforts towards ending violence against women and it has pointed out that the church has a very important part to play to bring about behavioral changes in men. “Laws are enacted but more relevant and stricter laws are required.”
It affirmed that to combat violence against women every section of the society needs to be involved and it cited the example of “Montreal Massacre” where men showed solidarity. “We expect our men folks to come out to protect us women from the clutches of the unmindful and heartless men of the society.”     
Moreover, on the part of women, it is essential to educate the ones who doesn’t know their rights and privileges so that, they will know their roles and protect themselves from being exploited, it stated.
 The note also mentioned that starting from November 25 till December 10, The International Fortnight Protesting Against Women is observed around the world over protesting all forms of violence against women and girls.
Within the period, December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day followed by December 3 as International Day of Disabled People and December 6 as the Anniversary of Montreal Massacre where 14 engineering students were gunned down by a man. It was an occasion when men stood to show their solidarity with women as this was a campaign against gender violence.
The fortnight concludes with the celebration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. “Observation of the fortnight is to create awareness and public opinion about the different forms of violence against women and girls and to draw more people into the struggle for Women’s Human Rights,” it stated.