IT News
Imphal, Dec 6:
A one-day awareness campaign on “Gender, Reproductive Health, and Legal Mechanisms of Women” in connection with 16 days of activism against gender-based violence under the theme “UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls” was held today at Sunusiphai Awang Community Hall, Bishnupur District. Women Action for Development, in collaboration with the IRDC (Integrated Rural Development Centre), organised the campaign.
The programme was attended by Sobita Mangsatabam, Secy. WAD, T. Shadishkanta Sharma, Secy. YFPHR, and Th. Helena CHO, HWC Phubala, as the presidential members, and was attended by around 100 participants.
In a welcome and keynote address, IRDC Secretary Sundari states that their leikai is fortunate to have this type of programme because violence against women and children is on the rise in Manipur.
T. Shadishkanta, Secretary, YFPHR, spoke on basic legal rights such as the POCSO Act and the Child Marriage Prohibition Act. He says that all citizens, including youths, are in high need of knowing basic legal knowledge and mechanisms in order to bring justice immediately and to prevent the youths from becoming accused due to a lack of knowledge. He further appeals to the participants not to encourage child marriage in our society and urges them to report immediately to Child Helpline No. 1098. He further expresses that it will not be possible to curb the issue of violence against women and children without the participation of youth, so he urges the youth participant to come forward to learn and contribute to stopping violence against women and children.
Sobita Mangsatabam interacted with the women’s participants in an informal discussion to let them speak out their grievances and the violence against women and children faced by them in their families and localities. She urges every participant to unite and join hands to fight the increasing violence against women and children and not to stay silent in any case.
Helena spoke on “Women’s Reproductive Health.” She says that women and adolescent girls need to be aware of their reproductive health. She urges the participants, especially women and girls, to come forward at the Health & Wellness Center to attend various awareness events and to solve their issues regarding family planning and health problems. She also encourages people to use protection if necessary to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.
The participants of the programme expressed gratitude to the organiser and an urge to organise this type of programme in the future, engaging more youth and male participants to end violence against women and children in the state.
