Kohima, 25 January (MTNews): The Department of Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development, organized a consultative meeting on Gender Campaign 2 at the Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima today. Commissioner & Secretary Kevisa Kense, IAS, delivered a keynote address, followed by a presentation on Gender Campaign and partnership by State Program Manager- SISD, NSRLM, Khriezovonu Lhoungu.
The National campaign against gender-based violence in India aims to address and combat the pervasive issue of violence against women in the country. It seeks to create awareness and mobilize public opinion to bring about a change in societal attitudes towards gender-based violence.
Both the central and state governments play a significant role in formulating and implementing policies and programs related to gender equality and combating gender-based violence. State Departments, including Social Welfare, Justice and Law, Health and Family Welfare, Home, Planning and Coordination, State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Tribal Affairs, have roles in enacting and enforcing laws, allocating resources, and providing essential services such as helplines, shelters, and counseling centers for survivors.
Civil society organizations contribute significantly to the gender campaign in India. Their roles include mobilizing public opinion, conducting research and documentation, and engaging in advocacy and policy dialogues to address gender-based violence and promote gender equality in their respective blocks and villages. The School Education Department, as one of the stakeholders, has been directed to conduct workshops with a focus on girl child and School Management Committees (SMCs) for girl child-related issues, including admission drives for drop-outs and awareness drives on POCSO.
The specific objectives of the campaign include:
Raising awareness: Educating the general public about various forms of violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, and sexual assault.
Sensitizing society: Sharing real-life stories and testimonies from survivors of gender-based violence to sensitize society to the extent and severity of the problem, fostering empathy and solidarity.
Preventing and deterring: Promoting preventive measures and encouraging bystander intervention to prevent incidents of gender-based violence.
Supporting and assisting survivors: Providing information and resources to survivors, including helpline numbers, counseling services, legal aid, and support groups, to facilitate their healing and rehabilitation process.
Influencing policy and legal reforms: Through advocacy and public mobilization, influencing policy and legal reforms addressing the root causes of gender-based violence, working with the government and stakeholders to strengthen existing laws and promote gender-responsive justice mechanisms.
Promoting gender equality: Challenging and breaking down ingrained gender norms and stereotypes perpetuating violence against women.