Silence surrounds VAW in Naga society

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 9  

Nagaland State Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare, Merentoshi R Jamir, on November 25, said the Social Welfare Department will sensitize people in authority, village councils, administration, police on the issue of violence against women and girls (henceforth VAW) in Nagaland.  

In this endeavour, the Social Welfare Department and Nagaland State Resource Centre for Women (NSRCW) launched the ‘16 days of activism’ against gender-based violence, ending on December 10. Team members set out to raise awareness about the 181 Women Helpline Nagaland and Sakhi-One Stop Centre, a scheme initiated by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.  

‘The 16 Days of Activism’ is an international campaign which runs each year from November 25 to December 10.  

Under the theme, 'Leave No One Behind – End Violence against Women,' the campaign is spearheaded by the United Nations Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women (UNiTE) and UN Women.  

The annual National Crime Records Bureau, over the years, has consistently shown Nagaland as one of the safest places in the country for women. However, even as public spaces in Naga society are safe, private spaces can be witness to violence against women and children that often go unreported.

  “We are trying to reach out to people so they will report any VAW they are aware of,” says Gracie Aye, State Coordinator of the NSCRW. If complaints come to the 181 Helpline, or the one stop centre, Protection Officers (also the District Welfare Officer) can be immediately deployed. When the matter is too sensitive, as cases of domestic abuse often are, police facilitation officers or even para legal volunteers can also be called in to intervene on the mater.  

But few cases of VAW are reported in Naga society.  

“Most cases of violence that are reported to us in Dimapur, for instance, are by non indigenous women,” notes Aye. This does not mean there are no cases of VAW in indigenous society. “Indigenous women mostly call anonymously,” she informs.  

Why?  

“Because there is stigma attached to domestic violence. Women report only when violence becomes extreme and intolerable. Even then, they prefer to first settle it in family circles or take it up at customary level,” observes Aye, based on the information that the State Recourse Centre has.  

There is little trust, she says, in the Indian judicial system with its lengthy procedures.  

Chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW), Prof. Temsula Ao, confirms this. “Due to family intervention as well as intimidation from the abuser, so many cases go unreported,” says Prof. Ao. Besides, in the judicial system, “cases drag on” and “put a lot of stress on the complainant.”

“The system is defeating,” she maintains. Survivors often come to the NSCW to get immediate relief in cases of VAW but there are only a few cases that the Commission can ‘mediate’ and depose. “We offer what mediation we can but the rest are referred to the justice system,” she informs. Few cases are taken forward to police station and courts.  

Apart from raising awareness, it is important for any department working on the issue of VAW to focus on making sure justice is done.

  When this does not happen through proper channels, the society often turns to the next best justice-giver, the lord almighty.  

“We often conclude in our programs that the church should intervene to help women facing abuse but it is not clear if the church is actively talking about VAW,” voices Gracie Aye.  

According to theologically trained, Renemla Ozukum, who engages with women’s issues and challenges, apart from “clan and family pride,” there is “Christian virtue” of tolerance and silence that avoids Naga women from reporting VAW.

 “Mental, emotional and spiritual violence on women are harder to address as they are not visible and have no instant proof,” she says. It thus becomes even more important to listen to what women have to say.  

Mary, notes Ozukum, sang the first ever Christian song (Luke 1:46-55) that is “revolutionary” but her voice is hardly ever quoted in the Bible that is overwhelmed by the male voice. Ozukum highlights that “only Mary knows what happened” which is why it is important to hear the voices of women.  

This interpretation may help the church take a step forward, alongside the State, to address VAW in Naga society.