Zunheboto, November 6 (DIPR): 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, HQ Lumami on November 4. The programme was organized 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, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University, Prof NS Jamir said that one of the most important issues in today's modern society is gender equality and that progress in society can be measured by the wellness and status of women. Citing the status of women in developed countries like U.S, Norway and U.K where women enjoy a respectable position in the society, he added that 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 that women's right is fundamental and basic human rights. He also spoke on many legislations/ acts passed by Indian parliament and state legislature for the protection of women's right like the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 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, the discussion was on the topic ‘Gender Equality and Women's Right’ where the resource person, Legal Aid Counsel cum Trainer, NSLSA, Esther K. Aye commented that discrimination of women starts even before a girl child is born and that, our state being a patriarch society, discrimination starts from 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. Constitutional and legal provisions for women in India were also highlighted to the gathering.
In the second session, Limasenla Longkumer, Legal Aid Counsel cum Trainer, NSLSA spoke on ' Sexual Harassment at the workplace', where she lamented that most of the legislations passed by the Parliament remains only in paper. She spoke of the famous verdict, Vishaka vs Government of Rajasthan in 1997 where Supreme Court of India upheld that sexual harassment is a human rights 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 last session witnessed an interaction with faculty members and students, where Asst. Prof. Monalisa Tase and 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 program. The resource person Asst. Prof. Neizhanuo Golmei gave the concluding remarks.
