Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 24
The Naga women should raise their voices against patriarchal mindset not through confrontation, but through proper dialogue, maintained the Chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) Temsula Ao on November 24.
“Women have been silent for so many years. Naga women, to a very large extent, have accepted the situation as it is. We accept our lot as secondary, as subordinated by patriarchal voices,” she said at the launching program of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence slated to begin from November 25 till December 10.
However, Ao added: “We have to raise our voices but not through confrontation. We have to be amenable to the other sides also, through proper dialogue.”
Adopting the universal theme, ‘End Gender-based violence in the world of work’, the event was held at the NSCW office in Kohima with Sarah R Ritse, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of Social welfare as the guest of honor.
“Have the situation in Naga society changed perceptively as a result of the positive orientations advocated by NGO pressure groups or even the government ostentatious efforts to dispense gender equality through adopting concepts like gender budgeting and gender safe working environment in the work place?” Ao further posed.
In this regard, Ao, who is also an established writer, maintained that, “Whatever be the results of such efforts, they will be superficial at best because the core of gender discrimination lies at the very heart of customary laws which direct and govern Naga life even in the twenty first century.” Speaking on the topic, ‘Redefining customary law from a gender perspective,” she viewed that it “must begin from within the patriarchal set-up," adding “the fundamental discrimination against women are enshrined in these very laws.”
However, Ao stated that the Naga customary laws cannot be abolished as it is “our own identity.” To safeguard within that identity, she viewed that the approach is one of dialogue and not confrontation. “We do not want to challenge or upset the customary laws that form the bedrock of Naga society,” suggested Ao.
On a positive note, Ao acknowledged the changes that many modern Naga men are initiating by way of making provisions in their wills to ensure inheritance for daughters and widows. “In fact we can say that Naga men in their own volition have started the process of redefining customary law which augurs well for Naga society,” she concluded.
In Nagaland, the global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is spearheaded by the NSCW which will further initiate tribal women organisations to dedicate to advocacy and coordination of work to eliminate violence against women in the local level through poster campaigns and awareness events. Also Read:
Time to voice out against sexual harassment at work place: Ritse
