Dimapur, 13 February (MTNews): In a stakeholders workshop held today in Dimapur, Moa Sangtam, the Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency, emphasized the crucial need for raising awareness about women’s rights and combating gender-based discrimination and violence. Sangtam underscored the global momentum towards women’s leadership roles while acknowledging the ongoing struggle for adequate representation of women in the state. He called for a shift in societal mindset to foster greater inclusivity.
Representing the State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Ashe Kiba echoed Sangtam’s sentiments, asserting that gender equality entails ensuring equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources for all individuals. Kiba highlighted the unique challenges faced by women with disabilities, citing double-layered discrimination, particularly among those with hearing, speech, visual, and intellectual impairments.
K Ela, the Director of Prodigals Home, shed light on the underreported cases of sexual harassment in the state, attributing the reluctance to report such incidents to the fear of discrimination and societal stigma. She urged women to bravely speak out against such injustices, emphasizing the importance of empowerment and solidarity. Ela further emphasized that individuals abusing drugs and alcohol are often the most vulnerable targets for abuse, emphasizing that marginalized women, especially those with disabilities, are disproportionately affected.
Providing legal insights, Sangto Longchar, a lawyer from the District Legal Services Authority, discussed the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013. Longchar delineated various forms of sexual harassment, including physical contact, demands for sexual favors, and unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.