Dimapur, October 16: The Central Nagaland Women Association (CNWA), in collaboration with the Nagaland Alliance for Children and Women Rights (NACWR), organised a programme focusing on gender-based violence and the need to strengthen the protection of women and girls in Nagaland.
During the programme, a resolution was adopted calling for collective responsibility, institutional accountability and sustained action to address gender-based violence, stressing that condemnation alone is insufficient without concrete measures to protect survivors and ensure justice.The resolution called on community leaders, tribal bodies, non-governmental organisations and joint working forums to strengthen community responses by establishing support systems for survivors, including accessible information, welfare assistance, shelters and rehabilitation services.
It also proposed the establishment of trauma care and long-term rehabilitation centres to help survivors recover and reintegrate into society, with similar facilities to be considered across all districts.The resolution further urged concerned government bodies, legal institutions and associations to review and amend their existing guidelines and policies to strengthen accountability and address gender-based violence. Emphasising a zero-tolerance approach, it called on tribal bodies and community leaders to formally reject compromises or settlements in cases of gender-based violence, including those arising from customary practices.
It also stressed that communities must function as support systems for survivors rather than subjecting them to discrimination or pressure to settle cases. The resolution underscored that victims must not be forced into compromises and must be able to seek justice with dignity and without coercion.
