HT Correspondent
DIMAPUR, Nov 25: Nagaland recorded the highest number of 350 cases of domestic violence against women in 2023, as per the available records in the last three to four years.
Martha R Ritse, secretary, Nagaland social welfare department, revealed this while addressing the observation of the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women at Chumoukedima Town Council hall on Monday as the special guest.
She said of all the violence-related cases received over the past three-four years in the state, the highest number has been that of domestic violence, as per the data from women helpline Nagaland and One Stop centres.
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Ritse added the second
highest number of cases after domestic violence, received at the women helpline in the past year, was that of cybercrime, or cyber-violence against women.
She noted that this is a new trend now with the increasing use of technology in our daily lives especially amongst the younger generations.
“These data are a very serious and sad reflection of our society,” Ritse said adding violence against women cannot be tolerated.
Saying that though Nagaland has been observing the event every year, along with the rest of the world she said, “We may be surprised to know that not much progress has been made over the years in eliminating this menace from the society.”
She, however, said although Nagaland has made some progress in preventing and combating violence against women, it has not been able to eliminate it.
She made a clarion call to the government departments and non-government organisations to join together and organise activities designed to raise public awareness on the issue.
She stressed that in order to eliminate violence against women and girls addressing its root causes is crucial, which includes challenging discriminatory social norms, transforming harmful masculinities, and eliminating structural gender inequalities and stereotypes.
She said with the Naga society being deeply patriarchal communities and parents in particular has an important role to play in promoting gender equality and building children’s resilience to rigid traditional attitude towards gender in early childhood.
Ritse also launched 16 days of activism against gender-based violence that ends on December 10, and Nayi Chetna 3.0 (gender campaign) during the observation of the day held on theme “unite to end violence against women”.
The programme was organised jointly by the social welfare department, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya, Nagaland State Livelihood Mission and district administrations of Chumoukedima and Dimapur districts.
