Violence against women at their workplaces and homes have not seen any tangible changes in Manipur and other parts of India, Nandini Thokchom, state resource person for Manipur rural livelihood mission and human rights defenders, indigenous perspective said on Tuesday.
Addressing the awareness programme on “Gender-based violence with special focus on the sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act 2013” on Tuesday at DRDA Hall, Mini Secretariat, Ukhrul, she said, "We should be talking about the successes in fight against violence against women as we have the right mechanism to tackle the pressing issue at stake".
Organized by Sakhi - One stop centre, Ukhrul, Nandini told the gathering that "while we should be talking about the fruition of the said Act and survival stories of the victims, we are still generating awareness".
Gender-based harassment includes both men and women and not just women, she said.
"There are instances where women and men lookalike persons (referring to nupi mangpi nupa and nupa mangpi nupi) were teased and harassed. This has to be put to an end because we are all humans," she said, and asked if we as parents and teachers are teaching our children in the right way.
She then urged all the stakeholders to reflect and asked themselves what comes in the way of effective implementation of this Act.
Violence also happens in unorganised sectors where employers seek favours and then silences the victims, threatening to terminate them from their job should they speak up.
"For the poor women who feeds and supports her family through her sweat, she sacrifices and bears the brunt in silence to ensure that her family is not deprived of their basic needs as going against the dictate of employers will starve the family", she pointed out and advised women folks not to blame themselves and delay their complaint but to boldly speak up and learn to say no.
She then harped on the pressing need to tell children what is a welcome and unwelcome touch.
Soso Shaiza, advisor National Commision for Women (NCW), said that harassment against women is a gender-based violence. "It is a deep-rooted violence directed against a person for their gender", she said.
Admitting that sexual harassment of women at workplaces (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act 2013 was enacted with the sole aim to provide safe and secure environment to women, she appealed to stop violence against women, once and for all, and to respect one another as we are all human beings.
Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner, Ukhrul urged the populace of the district to empathise and not sympathise with the victims.
"To protect and provide secure lives of women at workplaces should be the bounden responsibility of all stakeholders”, he said, and cited "Rasksha bandhan and Ningol Chaka oba" festivals to drive home the message of respecting sisters, mothers and women folks in particular with the celebrations of these festivals.
"Let us join hands together to create a better world," he further appealed.
Ningshen Vashum, SP Ukhrul and Rohini Kumar, SDO LM blocked, who is also the AC to DC, Ukhrul detailed on sexual harassment with special focus on prevention, prohibition and redressal Act 2013 provisions.
Any woman who faces harassment at their workplaces can promptly report to the internal complaint committee (ICC), Vashum said.
The SP also stated the need for organising more of such awareness programmes in order that people are educated and violence against women is put to an end.
