NEN calls for participation in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Dimapur, November 23 (MExN): The North East Network (NEN) will be observing the global campaign, "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" with the theme "Together We Rise, Together We Unite for violence-free communities for Women and Girls." 

In this connection, the various events have been planned state-wide during the 16-day of activism starting in Kohima on November 25 and culminating in Chizami on December 10. 

As per an NEN release, it started the campaign in the North-East Region (NER) in 2002 and has been observing it since then, in collaboration with various partners. 

“It is a clarion call to ensure public responsibility and state accountability to end all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls and protect their human rights at all times,” it said. 

The Network further reaffirmed its position that women and girls must be safe in homes, public spaces, educational institutions and workplaces. 

It also expressed concern and condemned global wars in Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan and the internal conflicts in Manipur in which a “large number of women, girls and children have been killed, murdered and sexually assaulted.” 

“Such brutal violence must end now. We call for sustainable peace across all communities in the world,” NEN added. 

Meanwhile, it further pointed out that globally, an estimated 736 million women— almost one in three — have been subjected to gender-based violence (GBV), at least once in their lives as per WHO 2021 data. 

Nagaland considered one of the safest states in India for women, saw a 38.46% jump in ‘Crime against Women’ in 2021 while ‘Registrations of cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 in Nagaland tripled from 2020 to 2021, with high pendency of cases, it added, citing media reports based on NCRB data. 

Recognising GBV as a human rights violation and acknowledging the increase in crimes against women, NEN has planned various activities across Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, bringing together different stakeholders which include both government and non-government agencies, it added. 

In Nagaland, NEN will be focusing on bringing together diverse stakeholders and creating awareness around issues of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) through the Personal Safety Education Programme (PSEP) with students, children, parents, and teachers. 

The event will be organised in 5 locations - Chizami, Chumukedima, Kohima, Pfutsero, and Shamator, amplifying social messages and addressing issues aligning with the 16 Days of Activism, it added. 

For further information on the event, one can visit NEN’s website https://northeastnetwork.org/ or call +91 7085719525.

NEN’s schedule for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence