Nagaland to mark International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

DIMAPUR — The Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM), will be organising International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, on November 25 at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.

According to a DIPR report, the Social Welfare department requested the AHoDs/ HoDs of all departments to depute five male officials/staff to attend the said event.

The department will also launch 16 days of activism for ending gender-based violence from November 25 (International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day).

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Towards this, it urged all the stakeholders to leverage the 16 days' time to conduct awareness campaign to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV).

“It may be noted that as per the United Nation's appeal, the HeForShe Campaign is being initiated as part of the observation, which is a solidarity movement for gender equality involving men and boys as agents of change,” the report stated.

The programmes highlighting the government’s initiatives to combat GBV and raise awareness about the rights and entitlements of women and girls may include:

•             Workshops and seminars to raise awareness on The Domestic Violence Act 2005, The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act 2013, POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence) Act 2012, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and special rights available to women and girls under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

•             Launching social media campaign using hashtags and informative contents to raise awareness about women's rights, laws, One Stop Centres, Helpline numbers and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

•             Enhance awareness about the Sexual Harassment Electronic (SHe) Box portal, Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) Abhiyan and the BVMB portal.

•             Raise awareness on emergency response support system number (112), Women Helpline (181) and Child Helpline (1098).

•             To raise awareness and facilitate accessibility of various facilities and services under Mission Shakti programmes like One Stop Center, HUB for Empowerment of Women, Shakti Sadan and Sakhi Niwas.

•             Establishing linkage between Gender Resource Centre under the SRLM and the One Stop Centres in districts.

•             Conduct workshops aimed at teachers and students to make them aware about concept of gender equality, importance of consent, good touch - bad touch, healthy relationships and upholding dignity of women and girls at all times.

•             Develop programmes for greater involvement of men and boys to promote positive masculinity and challenge harmful gender stereotypes. Appropriate changes in the school and college educational curricula as well as training materials of various departments and organisations can be made to highlight concepts like shared care giving, co-parenting and education against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

•             Sensitisation of frontline workers in Anganwadi centres, child care institutions, One Stop Centres, Shakti Sadan and Sakhi Niwas on the aspect of Gender.