A five-day self defence training for girls and campaign began in West Jaintia Hills district today as part of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women at Iungwalieh Dorbar Hall Dulong, Jowai.
The programme was organised by the District Hub Empowerment of Women, Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with Jowai Police Department and West Jaintia Hills District Taekwondo Association.
The self defence training initiative aims to equip girls with the skills, knowledge and confidence to protect themselves from gender-based violence and to overcome any challenges they encounter.
The girls will be trained by C. Langstang, Secretary West Jaintia Hills District Taekwondo Association and Joint Secretary Meghalaya Taekwondo Association will be assisting with the taekwondo training.
Assistant Commissioner G.H Passah who attended the programme as chief guest highlighted the challenges faced by women and girls, emphasising that these are not just women issues but societal issues that affect everyone.
He pointed out that gender-based violence is a pervasive problem that harms not only the victims but also the communities at large. The first step in addressing gender-based violence, he said, is to break the silence surrounding it and to identify victims and penetrators early.
Passah also emphasised the importance of creating a supportive and safe environment for survivors to speak out. He called for ensuring they have access to medical, legal and emotional support resources for their recovery. He stressed on the importance of support from all stakeholders to eliminate gender-based violence. He called for a united effort to address these challenges, acknowledging that ending gender-based violence requires collective action from individuals, communities and institutions.
District Mission Coordinator (DMC) FGN Rynga in his introductory speech highlighted on the component of the Mission Shati Schemes such as one Stop Centre, Women Helpline 181, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vanddana Yojana and Palna. He also highlighted the 16-day campaign starting from November 25 to December 10, 2024 on elimination of Gender Based Violence.
Officer incharge Jowai Police Station S.Shadap Mannar raised awareness about Cybercrime, presenting the growing issues of cybercrime and also provided valuable tips for ensuring online safety. He highlighted the importance of being cautious while sharing personal information, to use strong passwords, avoid suspicious links and to stay informed about the latest online threats.
Officer incharge Women Police Station Jowai I Kharpran spoke on POCSO Act and discussed various kind of act considered as offenses under the Act, she explained the significance of the POCSO (protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, emphasizing its crucial role in protecting children for sexual abuse and exploitation. She elaborated on the different offenses coved under the Act, such as sexual assault, harassment, stressing the importance of immediate legal intervention and support for the victim to address such crimes.
District Social Welfare Officer cum District Nodal Officer, DHEW, Y. Najiar was also present at the programme.
