Akangjungla
Domestic violence is by and large hidden; it happens in the privacy of the home. The abuser and the victim often share the relationship of a family and therefore, the excuse of denial and shame breaks the determination of the victim to fight back against the abuser or file complaints.
The State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW), Nagaland and the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland on October 27, 2021 brought together the stakeholders for a virtual consultative meeting to address domestic violence in the state. On ‘the issue of domestic violence in the context of Nagaland’ the Chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women pointed out the “alarming rate at which cases of gender based violence are on the rise, and that both literate and illiterate, and both urban and rural women bear domestic violence in silence.” Delivering the way forward, the Assistant Director, Department of Social Welfare made a call ‘to create a comfortable space for the victim to find solace, take hold of their life and to move on.’
As a Christian state, can the institute of church in Nagaland create this ‘comfortable space’ for the victims of domestic violence?
According to the State coordinator for SRCW, the nodal agency of Sakhi-One Stop Centre initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, last June Nagaland reported 30 cases at Sakhi-One Stop Centre (OSC), including eight cases of domestic violence, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Also National Family Health Survey (4th series) conducted in 2015-16 for Nagaland reported that among women age 15-49, 12% have experienced physical violence and 6% have experienced sexual violence. With at least 15% of women in Nagaland experiencing physical or sexual violence, while 2% of pregnant women experiencing physical violence during one or more of their pregnancies, it is very likely that people within the Church congregation are unknowingly victims of domestic abuse too.
For many in Nagaland, the faith community weaves one of the strongest relationships. It is the guarded place where people can gather in all their entanglement and with all their baggage. The church workers are regarded not just with the highest reverence, but they also become the figures who can encourage and counsel as and when needed. The exhortations from and beyond the pulpit, and the friendship and safety found in the church community are the only ‘comfortable space’ for many. As difficult as the topic of domestic violence is for the church, the hope and trust placed on it to be adequately equipped for healing and restoration of the human mind is colossal. The genuine compassion for those who are harmed in the communities and the solidarity with those affected will only reflect the teachings the church preach.
This International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25, 2021), as the Nagaland State Commission for Women in collaboration with the Nagaland State Social Welfare Board, State Resource Centre for Women and the Department of Social Welfare make a call to ‘End Violence Against Women Now!’, hopefully the church will respond with a positive step to become part of the way forward for ‘the victims to find solace, take hold of their life and to move on.’
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