Nagaland on Tuesday launched the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign with simultaneous events across the state, focusing this year on the surge in technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.
The state-level program, organised by the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) along with the District Administration Dimapur, DHEW Mission Shakti and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, was held at Town Hall, Dimapur. The observance also marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Launching the UNiTE Campaign, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Dr Tinojongshi Chang said violence against women remained “one of the most widespread human rights violations,” now increasingly extending into digital spaces. He said global data continued to show that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, adding that fear still shapes the daily lives of many women.
He called for coordinated efforts by communities, institutions and governments to challenge harmful attitudes and support survivors.
Participants were urged to support survivors, report violence, and speak out against discriminatory behavior. “When a survivor gathers the courage to speak, the least we can do is believe her and stand beside her”. He concluded with a renewed plea for commitment and solidarity. “A society can only progress when its women are safe, valued and empowered. Violence against women is not a women’s issue alone it is a human, moral and societal issue, and he encouraged all individuals to be part of the solution.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Vrinda Grover, delivering the theme address, said technology was being widely weaponized against women through online harassment, stalking, cyberbullying, image misuse and non-consensual intimate imagery. She highlighted available legal mechanisms, including provisions from the Justice Verma Committee Report, the Criminal Law (Amendment Act) 2013 and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, and called for stronger reporting systems and greater digital literacy.
Earlier, NSCW Chairperson W Nginyeih Konyak said the 16-day campaign, observed from November 25 to December 10, continues to be a global civil-society movement aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE initiative to eliminate violence against women.
In Phek, the District Administration, SANKALP-DHEW and Sakhi One Stop Centre held a parallel event where Deputy Commissioner Rhosietho Nguori said digital violence was becoming “more challenging than physical violence,” especially with advances in artificial intelligence. Phek SP Pritpal Kaur said over 2.5 lakh cases related to digital violence against women had been registered on the NCR Portal so far. She urged victims to use the 1930 cybercrime helpline within 24 hours of an incident for faster assistance.
In Kohima, the Department of Social Welfare, Mission Shakti Nagaland and Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission observed the day at the Capital Convention Centre. Advisor for Social Welfare Wangpang Konyak said the recent incidents in Kohima were a “wake-up call,” adding that violence against women was “not just a woman’s issue but a community issue.” He urged citizens to act as “ambassadors of women’s safety.”
Social Welfare Secretary Limawabang Jamir, IAS, outlined state initiatives for the social and economic uplift of women. During the programme, eight new Gender Resource Centres were inaugurated in Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Changtongya, Pfutsero, Wokha and Satakha.
Events across the state marked the start of the annual UN campaign, which will continue until December 10.