Joining the rest of the globe in observing International Day for the elimination of violence against women and girls, Women Action for Development (WAD) organised a candlelight vigil in front of the Hatta Kangjeibung Gate, Palace Compound calling people to stop gender based violence in Manipur.
The vigil also marks the start of the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence’ which will end on December 10.
The participants held various placards stressing the need to save women and children amid the conflict, to empower them and protect them.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, WAD secretary Mangsatabam Sobita condemned the reimposition of AFSPA in areas under six valley police stations.
“The people of Manipur have experience traumatic under the draconian act which dehumanises human beings and strips them of their basic rights. The people fought tooth and nail to completely repeal the act from Manipur though it was removed only from the valley,” she said.
She stated that countless women and children were brutally victimised under the act and demanded that act be repealed from all corners of Manipur.
On the other hand, Sobita highlighted that several women and children had been victimised since the conflict began in Manipur.
“Women and children have been tortured, sexually assaulted, raped and murdered during the conflict. Their bodies discarded without any dignity,” she said.
As such she stated that the 16 days protest would highlight this core issues and try create mass movement to combat the inhumane crimes which have been inflicted on the women and children of Manipur.
We are planning to hold similar events in other places of Manipur to voice dissent against gender based crimes and demand justice for those who have been victimised, she added.
