First day of "16 Days Activism on Violence against Women" observed in Lamka

The first day observation of the "16 Days Activism on Violence Against Women" has begun on Friday at Peace ground, Tuibong, Lamka, from 11: 00 am to 2:00 pm under the theme: "Unite, Invest to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls." Hundreds of women of Lamka town participated in the event.

The programme was attended by leaders from various women's organisations in Lamka such as the Zomi Mothers' Association ( ZMA), Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) and Hmar Women Union (HWU).

During the program, leaders of the women organisations gave lectures on the hardship faced by the Kuki-Zo women in the aftermath of the present violence.
Every year since 1991, 25th to 10th December has always been observed as 16 days Activism on Violence Against Women across the world.

The campaign called on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing way forward for a world free from violence against women. In the present Manipur crisis, tribal communities belonging to Kuki-Zos have been subjected to most horrific mob violence, sexually assaulted, gang raped and even murdered.

According to Annie Raja, "women have been used as instruments to exact revenge on the other communities and all these are happening in modern society and that has to stop.

The Women of Lamka, which is a conglomerate of various women groups, also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi seeking justice for women victims of violence during the Manipur crisis. Emphasising on 2023’s theme - Invest to prevent violence against women and girls, the Women of Lamka sought the attention and necessary action of the concerned authority.

The memorandum also mentioned the numerous assaults, attacks, raped, murdeted and shamed by the Meitei mob, which are more than enough proofs of how their sisters and mothers were being subjected to extreme inhumane forms of violence in the on-going conflict between the ethnic communities in the state of Manipur.

The Women of Lamka highlighted the numerous atrocities committed against the Kuki-Zo women by the majority Meitei community in the past. Notable mentioned here is that of 21 girls who were sexually assaulted by the VBIGs in Pherzawl in 2016.

The memorandum was jointly signed by the President of Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights, Kuki Women Union, Hmar Women Association, Zomi Mothers’ Association, Mizo Peoples’ Convention Women Wing and the Convenor of ITLF Women Wing.