Newmai News Network IMPHAL | NOVEMBER 25 Women in Governance (WinG) North-East India Conference and the 16-Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence Campaign was held today at Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal with Manipur Governor of Manipur Dr. Najma Heptulla as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Heptulla said that it is heartening to know that during the campaign, eminent women leaders, women human rights defenders, women activists and many more from across the country are participating "for such a worthy cause." WinG was initiated in the year 2009 with women representatives from WinG North-East and women from marginalized communities across India and works towards promoting leadership within local governance. The general objective of WinG is to help in grooming women leadership as change agent in peace building process with awareness and capacity building. Dr Heptulla stated that this year the main agenda of the conference is to reflect, deliberate and march ahead with the slogan – from Victimhood to Survivor to Change Agents. The conference will take stock of its interventions, advocacies, campaigns and deliberate on how to take forward achievement of the past years and also look into the context of the current situations. The conference is an attempt to scale up campaign, strengthen, expand the WinG network and stand in solidarity with individuals who are victim and survivors of violence and deliberate on emerging issues that affect women’s decision making at all levels. The Governor is confident that the Conference will come out with recommendations for the way forward to achieve gender equality and most importantly provide space for women leadership building and standing in solidarity. "I am also hopeful that WinG will continue to pursue their efforts for the welfare of unfortunate and needy women and girls," Dr Heptulla added. As part of the conference, a documentary film of ‘WinG NE on Women in Decision Making’ was also screened. In her welcome address, Bondita Acharya WinG Assam said that the organization has planned to expand WinG in another 4 states. The WinG NE India conference under the theme ‘Strengthening the role of women collective in Governance and in decision making’ will conclude on November 26. In the technical session, WinG Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam and others will speak on various topics.
