Dimapur, March 3 (MExN): Indigenous Women’s Forum of North East India (IWFNEI) held its general assembly and organized an interface from February 26 – 29 at AIDA, Don Bosco School, Dimapur.
Women from 5 Northeastern states participated in the event which was supported by Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Chiangmi, Thailand.
The session began with an interface between Nepuni Piku of NPMHR and IWFNI members on the international and national rights of indigenous people vis-a vis regional and local issues for empowerment of Indigenous peoples in India and the North East today.
The Forum held the view that the over-arching patriarchal traditions and power structures subjugating women in tribal societies will give way to justice and equality when men and women in our society dialogue together at many levels.
To this end, IWFNEI sees the role of the church and other village and state-level institution as critically important. It was asserted that the development paradigm has to be based on the intrinsic world- view of indigenous people who have sustained our land and culture since time immemorial.
Reports from the various units and states highlighted the commonality of issue among women which become the basis for future programmes.
During the assembly, new office bearers were also selected for the term 2020-2023 from among the unit members. The IWFNEI will be led by Komoli from Arunachal Pradesh as Convenor and Abole from Assam as Co-Convenor, along with other office bearers.
