New Delhi, 2 July 2013 : In 2011, at least 526,000 people died violent deaths around the world. Over three-quarters of these occurred in non-conflict settings. A wide range of people around the globe are working to change this depressing reality. But who are these men and women who have dedicated their lives to making the world a safer place?
Members of London-based organization called Action on Armed Violence have published on 28th June a list of 100 people who are outstanding examples of those trying to change the world for the better. The list includes, United Nations Secretary General Ban ki Moon, Nobel Laureates like Jody Williams and Former US President Jimmy Carter and survivors like Malala Yosufzai. The complete list can be found at this website http://aoav.org.uk/2013/top-100-the-most-influential-people-in-the-world-of-armed-violence/
It is with great pride to share that amongst the list of 100 most influential people in the world in armed violence reduction, hailing from Northeast state of Manipur in India, Binalakshmi Nepram is one of the icons listed. Speaking on hearing about the recognition, Ms Nepram said, “We are delighted to share that after years of hard-work on finding ways to reduce armed violence,we found our name in the list. To a humble struggling organisation and team like us,this news has come with great joy. We are honoured and humbled to be in list.We thank all who trusted us, supported and inspired us in this journey.Our work for peace will go on with renewed vigor”
Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, born in the state of Manipur located in India’s Northeast region. She is a writer-activist and is a strong voice in the India and Asia region who is spearheading work on making women-led disarmament a movement and an issue that is meaningful to people’s lives. Ms Nepram has a Masters in History from Delhi University and an M.Phil in South Asian Studies in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Ms Nepram has published several articles and papers in both national and international journals on issues relating to armed violence, small arms proliferation, peace processes, women and peace building. She is author of four books namely a book of poetry called “Poetic Festoon” published in 1990; “South Asia’s Fractured Frontier: Armed Conflict, Narcotics and Small Arms Proliferation in India’s Northeast” published 2002, “Meckley”, a historical fiction based on the conflict in Manipur published in 2004 and an edited volume titled “India and the Arms Trade Treaty” published in 2009.
In 2004, Ms Nepram co-founded India’s first civil society organization which is working on conventional disarmament issues, namely the Control Arms Foundation of India. And in 2007, in order to help thousands of women who are affected by gun violence in her home-state Manipur, Ms Nepram launched the Manipuri Women Gun Survivor Network. She has represented Indian civil society in various disarmament meetings at United Nations in New York.
In 2004, Ms Nepram was awarded a Ploughshares fellowship to work on small arms mitigation in Indo-Myanmar/Burma region. In 2006, Bina was awarded the Dalai Lama Foundation’s WISCOMP Scholar of Peace Award given to women who are working on conflict resolution and peace process and completed a pioneering work on women and micro-disarmament issues.
Bina’s work with Manipur women gun survivors was given the “Best Humanitarian Initiative of the Year 2010” at Women Leaders in India Conference held in New Delhi on 10 December 2010 and in September 2010 she was conferred with international Sean MacBride Peace Prize for 2010 by International Peace Bureau based in Geneva. In August 2011, Bina was given the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award for her work in supporting thousands of women survivors of gun violence in her home state Manipur and she was recipient of Ashoka Fellowship by Washington DC based Ashoka : Innovators of the Public. In 2011, CNN IBN awarded her team Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, “Indian of the Year “Award in Special Achievement category.
Till this day, Ms Nepram and her team continues to dedicate their lives working in villages of Northeast India transforming lives of impoverished poverty stricken women affected by conflict while continuing to research,write,advocate for change with governments,parliamentarians and United Nations
Office of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network
& Control Arms Foundation of India
Email: cafi.communique@gmail.com
Delhi office : B5 / 146, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India
Phone: +91-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234
Web: www.womensurvivorsnetwork.org / www.cafi-online.org
Northeast India Office : Langthabal, Mantrikhong, Thong Ahanbi, Behind Manipur University Campus, Imphal West, Manipur. Pin: 795003 & Sreeram Villa of Kunjaban,Shyamalibazar, Po: Kunjaban, West Tripura, Agartala, Pin: 799006
