IT News
Imphal, Nov 24:
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10th December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership. And this year marks its 30th anniversary under the leadership of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the United Nations UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign.
Women Action for Development (WAD) along with other civil society organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders have been taking part on this International event every year since 2003 to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls in Manipur. This year the 16 days activism against Gender-based Violence will be organised under the global theme, “Orange the world: End Violence against women now”. The colour orange symbolizes a brighter future, free of violence. It also serves as a means of demonstrating our solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence.
This year too, WAD is taking part in this International event amidst the pandemic to address this burning issue. Even before the pandemic hit, violence against women and girls had reached pandemic proportions. Globally, 1 in 3 women aged 15 years and older, around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non partner or both at least once in their lifetime, indicating that levels of VAW have remain largely unchanged over the last decade.
WAD has documented 135 cases of violence against women and children from 1St January 2021 to 23rd November 2021 through the local Newspaper. Out of 135 cases, there were 29 rape, 1 gang rape, 6 murder, 5 suicide, 9 suspicious death, 4 molestation, 21 assault, 22 missing, 2 attempt to rape, 2 delivery death, 1 assault with delivery, 1 Domestic violence, 1 abandoned, 3 life attempt, 4 attempt to child marriage cases, 9 crowd control assault, 1 Sexual harassment, 5 kidnappings, 4 cybercrime and 5 medical negligence death respectively.
Out of the mentioned 135 cases of violence against women and children, 27 cases occurred in Imphal East, 31 at Imphal West, 27 at Thoubal, 11 at Bishnupur, 5 at Ukhrul, 2 at Kamjong, 2 at Chandel, 4 at Tamenglong, 3 at Kangpokpi, 8 at Churachandpur, 7 at Kakching District, 3 outside the State, 2 at Jiribam and Senapati District 3 cases respectively.
On top of these issues, the ancient old customary law has been a stumbling block when delivering justice. Hilly districts are bound with customary laws which are not women friendly. There are many rape cases where victim and their family were compensated by the culprit by giving a pig or a cow and the case was close after that. There is a need to reform the customary law with more women-friendly approaches. Today, although the voices of activists and survivors have reached the highest point that cannot be silenced or ignored, ending Violence against Women will require more investment, leadership and action. It cannot be sidelined; it must be part of every state response amidst this covid-19 crisis.
We also urge the government to launch bold actions and commitments to end Violence against Women.
We therefore, request all the media houses, civil society organisations, academicians, intellectuals, judiciaries and all the stakeholders to contribute and support our activism by highlighting the issues and focusing the news pertaining to violence against women. We also appeal the media houses to kindly highlight all the data attached to this letter as well as cover issues related to women to create awareness during this 16 days of activism.
