Women and children lunch during the International Women’s Day observance in Kohima, Saturday, March 7.
Kohima, March 8 : A grand event commemorating International Women’s Day was observed here today, with hundreds of Naga women displaying their talent, strength and demonstrating unity.
The occasion was held at the government higher secondary ground, with chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women, Sano Vamuzo, as the chief guest. Attributing the significance of the day, Sano exhorted the gathering that the top priority of today’s lives is to educate women.
Naga women everywhere are struggling hard to be at par with men in all fields, and being a patriarchal society, she said, women have many challenges to face. “Our top priority is to educate our women, conscientizing (sic) them to know their legal rights and opportunities that are open before us” Sano said.
She underlined education as the ‘desperate need of the hour’ as a means to empowering women and realizing their cherished goals in all fields of activity and for progress and development. On women rights, the chairperson said Naga women struggle hard for their due because of ignorance and also the ground reality of being in a patriarchal society. Vamuzo said women struggle hard for rights but not much could be done due to ‘own ignorance’ and ignorance of the society.
She said “due to ignorance, our rights are not known; we need to tell our women of their legal rights and privileges; not only claiming our legal rights but knowing our respective roles, starting from our homes and then to the society is expected of us”.
The chairperson also reminded NGOs, who she said are ‘mostly devoted to economic benefits’, to be more conscious and aware of the suffering sections around. She has urged to create more networking and concerted efforts for the betterment of the society. Vamuzo further encouraged women to be peacemakers and also to work together in eradicating the existence of anti-social elements, tribalism and other ills in the society.
Also speaking at the event, additional chief secretary Banuo Z Jamir, IAS, highlighted the realities and opportunities for Naga women today. She said men and women should work together to uplift the society. That while men and women have different capabilities, Jamir said the mindset of people labeling women as the weaker section of the society, should be changed. With their differences and qualities, the two genders can still work together to develop the society, she said. For human resource development, Banuo stressed on the need to equip women with education, better health facilities and better means to livelihood.
Stating that 40% of women are illiterate and are mostly in the rural areas, she encouraged ‘privileged’ women to educate and enable through various schemes, facilities and opportunities. Citing examples from the communitization process, the senior government official urged Naga women to take opportunities from the grass-root level. She said the ‘issue of male-female’ won’t arise when there is confidence in every way. ‘We should make sure all women in Nagaland are confident’ Jamir said.
The occasion was held at the government higher secondary ground, with chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women, Sano Vamuzo, as the chief guest. Attributing the significance of the day, Sano exhorted the gathering that the top priority of today’s lives is to educate women.
Naga women everywhere are struggling hard to be at par with men in all fields, and being a patriarchal society, she said, women have many challenges to face. “Our top priority is to educate our women, conscientizing (sic) them to know their legal rights and opportunities that are open before us” Sano said.
She underlined education as the ‘desperate need of the hour’ as a means to empowering women and realizing their cherished goals in all fields of activity and for progress and development. On women rights, the chairperson said Naga women struggle hard for their due because of ignorance and also the ground reality of being in a patriarchal society. Vamuzo said women struggle hard for rights but not much could be done due to ‘own ignorance’ and ignorance of the society.
She said “due to ignorance, our rights are not known; we need to tell our women of their legal rights and privileges; not only claiming our legal rights but knowing our respective roles, starting from our homes and then to the society is expected of us”.
The chairperson also reminded NGOs, who she said are ‘mostly devoted to economic benefits’, to be more conscious and aware of the suffering sections around. She has urged to create more networking and concerted efforts for the betterment of the society. Vamuzo further encouraged women to be peacemakers and also to work together in eradicating the existence of anti-social elements, tribalism and other ills in the society.
Also speaking at the event, additional chief secretary Banuo Z Jamir, IAS, highlighted the realities and opportunities for Naga women today. She said men and women should work together to uplift the society. That while men and women have different capabilities, Jamir said the mindset of people labeling women as the weaker section of the society, should be changed. With their differences and qualities, the two genders can still work together to develop the society, she said. For human resource development, Banuo stressed on the need to equip women with education, better health facilities and better means to livelihood.
Stating that 40% of women are illiterate and are mostly in the rural areas, she encouraged ‘privileged’ women to educate and enable through various schemes, facilities and opportunities. Citing examples from the communitization process, the senior government official urged Naga women to take opportunities from the grass-root level. She said the ‘issue of male-female’ won’t arise when there is confidence in every way. ‘We should make sure all women in Nagaland are confident’ Jamir said.
“Women’s rights are Human Rights”
Dimapur, March 8 : The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) on the occasion of International Women’s Day has advocated strongly the rights of ‘indigenous women’. It said that indigenous women are the most-exploited and the most severely affected victims of developmental aggression. NPMHR called upon the people to reaffirm and recommit themselves to the cause of realizing the rights of women.
A press release issued by the Rights group, while acknowledging the importance of the IWD in recognizing the numerous achievements made toward realizing the rights and claims of women, pointed out that the occasion is a grim reminder of the various unfulfilled responsibilities and commitments made by various state and non-state agencies toward ensuring full enjoyment of the rights of women.
In this regard, the NPMHR while saying that women in general are the most vulnerable section of the society, stated that indigenous women constitutes a still more vulnerable group among women, and that the State has failed to respect, protect, and promote their rights.
Drawing attention to the various incidents of discrimination and exploitation of indigenous women at various fronts, the release stated that indigenous women remain the bulk of women whose rights are abused everyday.
“Because of their vulnerability, they are often the victims of trafficking, physical, sexual, and psychological violence, abduction and rape by armed individuals etc,” the NPMHR asserted.
Besides, while reiterating that indigenous women are the most severely affected victims of developmental aggression, the NPMHR asserted that their vulnerable economic and political position places them in positions where the negative outcomes of development such as forced migration, relocation, and dispossession hits them critically.
In this regard, the NPMHR cited the example of the construction of dams and other mega structures in the region which has mostly victimized women especially the case of Lungmila who was brutally injured on November 3, 2008 during a protest against the construction of the Mapithel Dam. It is a strong reminder of the failure of the State to respect, protect, and promote the rights of women vis-à-vis developmental programs, the release affirmed.
The Rights body also drew attention to the numerous incidents of sexual violence against women at Parbung, Tipaimukh and adjoining villages by armed groups and also the recent rape incident at Senapati; and the trafficking of girls to other parts of India. While saying that some incidents are reported in the media, the NPMHR asserted that a majority of them go unnoticed or unreported, either by the media or other agencies thereby contributing to the continued violation of the rights of the victims. The rights body also maintained that law enforcement agencies have either miserably failed or are often in cohorts with those committing the crimes making the abusers practically immune to legal sanction.
In this connection, the NPMHR while encouraging one and all to reaffirm and recommit themselves to the cause of realizing the rights of women, stated that women’s rights are human rights and therefore its realization and enjoyment should be a common goal and a shared obligation for everyone. It further urged everyone to reflect on where the people are in their struggle for equality, peace and development. “Let the International Women’s Day be a chance for everyone to unite and join together for meaningful change,” the NPMHR stated.
Furthermore, while saluting and paying homage to the many women, especially from the region who have sacrificed and made tremendous contributions to the cause of women’s rights in particular and human rights in general at various levels, the NPMHR reiterated and reaffirmed its support and commitment to the global agenda to end all forms of violence against women.
A press release issued by the Rights group, while acknowledging the importance of the IWD in recognizing the numerous achievements made toward realizing the rights and claims of women, pointed out that the occasion is a grim reminder of the various unfulfilled responsibilities and commitments made by various state and non-state agencies toward ensuring full enjoyment of the rights of women.
In this regard, the NPMHR while saying that women in general are the most vulnerable section of the society, stated that indigenous women constitutes a still more vulnerable group among women, and that the State has failed to respect, protect, and promote their rights.
Drawing attention to the various incidents of discrimination and exploitation of indigenous women at various fronts, the release stated that indigenous women remain the bulk of women whose rights are abused everyday.
“Because of their vulnerability, they are often the victims of trafficking, physical, sexual, and psychological violence, abduction and rape by armed individuals etc,” the NPMHR asserted.
Besides, while reiterating that indigenous women are the most severely affected victims of developmental aggression, the NPMHR asserted that their vulnerable economic and political position places them in positions where the negative outcomes of development such as forced migration, relocation, and dispossession hits them critically.
In this regard, the NPMHR cited the example of the construction of dams and other mega structures in the region which has mostly victimized women especially the case of Lungmila who was brutally injured on November 3, 2008 during a protest against the construction of the Mapithel Dam. It is a strong reminder of the failure of the State to respect, protect, and promote the rights of women vis-à-vis developmental programs, the release affirmed.
The Rights body also drew attention to the numerous incidents of sexual violence against women at Parbung, Tipaimukh and adjoining villages by armed groups and also the recent rape incident at Senapati; and the trafficking of girls to other parts of India. While saying that some incidents are reported in the media, the NPMHR asserted that a majority of them go unnoticed or unreported, either by the media or other agencies thereby contributing to the continued violation of the rights of the victims. The rights body also maintained that law enforcement agencies have either miserably failed or are often in cohorts with those committing the crimes making the abusers practically immune to legal sanction.
In this connection, the NPMHR while encouraging one and all to reaffirm and recommit themselves to the cause of realizing the rights of women, stated that women’s rights are human rights and therefore its realization and enjoyment should be a common goal and a shared obligation for everyone. It further urged everyone to reflect on where the people are in their struggle for equality, peace and development. “Let the International Women’s Day be a chance for everyone to unite and join together for meaningful change,” the NPMHR stated.
Furthermore, while saluting and paying homage to the many women, especially from the region who have sacrificed and made tremendous contributions to the cause of women’s rights in particular and human rights in general at various levels, the NPMHR reiterated and reaffirmed its support and commitment to the global agenda to end all forms of violence against women.