DIMAPUR, JUNE 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Alliance for Children and Women Rights (NACWR) has expressed concern over what it described as a rise in cases of sexual violence against women and children in Nagaland, while also criticising delays in the delivery of justice to survivors.
In a press release, the organisation said one sexual assault case involving a 14-year-old girl remains pending before the court, while two more cases have recently been reported from Niuland and Dimapur districts. According to NACWR, the new incidents involve the alleged sexual assault of a seven-year-old child by an adult and the assault of a 16-year-old minor that resulted in pregnancy.
"The significant age difference between victims and perpetrators, alongside the extreme vulnerability of the children involved, renders these crimes even more heinous," it stated.
NACWR said the incidents "are not issues of religion, region, or tribal identity," but are "a direct consequence of individuals audacious enough to disregard the law and compromise the safety of our community."
The organisation further maintained that the cases point to "a systemic failure," adding that "when leaders and authorities neglect the strict enforcement of law, public outrage intensifies, and faith in the justice system erodes."
It asserted that Nagaland "is not merely a land for building generational wealth for a select few," but that "it is the shared responsibility of every leader, authority, and citizen to cultivate a safe environment for women and children."
Calling the growing number of crimes against women and children "deeply alarming," NACWR warned that the state risks being perceived as one that tolerates violence if decisive action is not taken. It said it "condemns these heinous acts in the strongest possible terms" and expressed solidarity with survivors and their families.
Among its demands, the organisation called for "immediate investigation and prosecution in all pending and new cases," stronger implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws, and prompt action by the Government of Nagaland and law enforcement agencies "to restore public confidence and ensure that no survivor is denied justice."
"The safety and dignity of our women and children are non-negotiable. The time for silence and delay is over," the statement said.
NACWR also appealed to civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens to adopt a “zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence.”
