DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 6: A one-day legal awareness cum sensitization programme on “Gender equality and women’s right with special focus on sexual harassment at the workplace’ was held at Nagaland University (NU) Headquarters, Lumami, on November 4. The programme was organised and sponsored by Zunheboto District Legal Service Authority (ZDLSA) in collaboration with Cell for Elimination of Sexual Harassment, Nagaland University, Lumami.
Speaking on the occasion, NU Vice Chancellor, Prof. NS Jamir said one of the most important issues in today’s modern society is gender equality who also said that progress in society can be measured by the wellness and status of women. Citing status of women in developed countries like the US, Norway and UK where women enjoy a respectable position in the society, he said Indian society still lacks justice when it comes to women.
‘Gender inequality is one of the factors why India continues to remain backward,’ the Vice Chancellor stated.
District and Sessions Judge (D&SJ), Zunheboto, Niechochiyi Suyie, in his keynote address, said women’s right is a fundamental and basic human rights. He also spoke on many legislations/ acts passed by Indian Parliament and state legislatures for protection of women’s right like the sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) 2013.
‘Gender Equality is the core objective of UN and no society can develop without providing equal opportunities to both men and women,’ said the Convenor, Cell for Elimination of Sexual Harassment and Gender Club, NU, Prof. B Kilangla Jamir.
In the first session, discussion was conducted on the topic “Gender equality and women’s Right” where the resource person and NSLSA legal aid counsel cum trainer, Esther K Aye commented that discrimination of women starts even before a girl child is born adding our state being a patriarch society discrimination starts from the family itself. She also spoke on the role of the District Welfare Officer (DWO), who is the Protection Officer, when a victim of sexual harassment files Domestic Incidence Report (DIR) or First Information Report (FIR) in Police Stations.
In the second session, Limasenla Longkumer, NSLSA legal aid counsel cum trainer, spoke on ‘ Sexual harassment at the workplace’ where she lamented that most of the legislation passed by the Parliament remains only in paper. She spoke on the famous verdict, Vishaka vs Government of Rajasthan in 1997 where the Supreme Court of India upheld that sexual harassment is a human right violation. Special provisions for women in Indian Penal Code 1860, and The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 were highlighted.
Limasenla also spoke on the role of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which was formed to redress sexual harassment throughout the country. She cited many recent high profile cases like AK Ganguly case and Tarun Tejpal case where high profile personalities were put behind bars for sexual harassment.
The final session witnessed an interaction with faculties and students, where Assistant Prof. Monalisa Tase and the Retainer Lawyer Tovi Yeptho moderated the event. Many doubts and queries raised by the participants were clarified by Judicial Magistrate, Atoka Achumi, who also chaired the programme. Resource person Assistant Prof. Neizhanuo Golmei delivered the concluding remarks.
Registrar, Prof. Lanusosang, Finance Officer MK Sinha, HODs, teaching and non-teaching faculties, research scholars, ZDLSA officials and students of NU attended the function.
