Webinar on “women’s safety and security” organized | MorungExpress
Dimapur, August 8 (MExN): Peace Channel and North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), Dimapur held a webinar on the topic of “women’s safety and security” on August 8.
Resource persons included Asha Sanchu, Director of Miqlat Ministry and Gracy Aye, State Coordinator of the Nagaland Government Women’s State Resource Center. It was facilitated by Vitono Haralu, Peace Channel trainer and consultant.
Need for political will
Father Dr. CP Anto, Director of Peace Channel and Principal of NEISSR, in his opening remarks said that men and women are primarily responsible for the safety and security of women and girls in our society.
He mentioned how political will can play a big role in the process of protecting women and girls.
“If we actively promote and involve women in politics, in the decision-making and policy-making process, we will have a better society where women’s concerns are rightly addressed, like Rwanda which has more than 61.3% women parliamentarians,” he said.
Inclusiveness – the way forward
Speaking on ‘women’s safety and security’, Grace Aye said this issue is not limited to the plight of women only, but is a social issue and concern.
Speaking from a Nagaland perspective, Gracy Aye shared the myriad representations of violence faced by women, which in some cases is regulated by customary law and order (mainly in villages) due to which many cases go unreported and unrecorded. According to reports, there are many cases of domestic violence, rape, murder, and cybercrime with regards to abuse suffered by women.
The way forward is not to stigmatize a situation, but it should start at home to raise meaningful children with respect for every being, Gracy said while suggesting that men and women should work together to deliberate on The problems.
‘Be people-oriented’
Addressing the issue of “women’s safety and security from an economic empowerment perspective,” Asha Sanchu highlighted the lack of skills. Amid the pandemic and lack of job opportunities, Asha expressed the need to promote sustainable, organic, sustainable and marketable skills development for women as a way to empower them.
Discussing more about empowering women, she said empowered women are less subject to violence because they have the confidence to overcome any given situation. “Having a holistic approach and engaging in social dialogue can bridge the gaps between the gaps,” she said.
She concluded by saying that the society which is unable to respect women can never be developed and therefore insisted on the need to change our perception of things towards people.
The session also continued with a discussion on violence and abuse faced by men, followed by an interactive session.
