Kohima, November 24 (MExN): The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland, will launch a 16-day Activism Campaign from November 25 to December 10 aimed at ending gender-based violence.
The campaign, commencing on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and concluding on Human Rights Day, will focus on raising awareness and mobilising action to eliminate gender-based violence.
The department has asked all stakeholders to leverage this period to conduct extensive awareness campaigns across the state.
The initiative is part of United Nation’s appeal, HeForShe Campaign, which is a solidarity movement for gender equality involving men and boys as agents of change.
The Department in collaboration with the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission will be organizing International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima. It has also requested the AHoDs and HoDs of all Departments to depute five male officials and staff to attend the said event.
The campaign highlighting initiatives of Government to combat gender-based violence and raise awareness about the rights and entitlements of women and girls may include:
• Workshops and seminars to raise awareness on The Domestic Violence Act 2005’, The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act 2013’, ‘POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence) Act 2012’, ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023’ and special rights available to women and girls under ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023’ with regard to Victim Compensation etc.
• Launching social media campaign using hashtags and informative content to raise awareness about women’s rights, laws, One Stop Centres, Helpline numbers and Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
• Enhance awareness about the Sexual Harassment Electronic (SHe) Box portal, Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) Abhiyan and the BVMB portal.
• Raise awareness on Emergency Response Support System Number (112), Women Helpline (181) and Child Helpline (1098).
• To raise awareness and facilitate accessibility of various facilities and services under Mission Shakti programmes like One Stop Center, HUB for Empowerment of Women, Shakti Sadan and Sakhi Niwas.
• Establishing linkage between Gender Resource Center under the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and the One Stop Centres in Districts.
• Conduct workshops aimed at teachers and students to make them aware about concept of gender equality, importance of consent, good touch - bad touch, healthy relationships and upholding dignity of women and girls at all times.
• Develop programs for greater involvement of men and boys to promote positive masculinity and challenge harmful gender stereotypes. Appropriate changes in the school and college educational curricula as well as training materials of various Departments and Organizations can be made to highlight concepts like shared care giving, co-parenting and education against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment.
• Sensitization of frontline workers in Anganwadi Centres, Child Care institutions, One Stop Centres, Shakti Sadan and Sakhi Niwas on the aspect of Gender.
