IMPHAL, November 30: Women in North East India particularly in Manipur, irrespective of their profession and status, bear the impact of conflict directly and indirectly. Many become widows at a young age and are found struggling for survival. This was said by Women in Governance (WinG), Manipur Chapter member Helam Haokip while announcing a new TV show `Women Talk`™ to be aired every Monday on Impact TV.
She was speaking in a press conference held at the office of Impact TV.
She further said that women in the State experience poverty and untold miseries including gender discrimination in the form of sexual violence.
Many continue to live in a traumatic environment with all kinds of social stigmas as HIV/AIDS patients, sometimes driven to drugs and peddling arms, or into the sex trade for survival, she said.
At the same time, violence against women has been seeing a rapid increase in recent times she said adding that women are easy victims of crimes and discrimination.
Helam said forms of violence are varied and they can include domestic violence, cyber-related crimes, sexual violence, physical assault, suicide, among others.
We have several legislations to safeguard women and girls against any form of violence, but it is unfortunate that often there is no one to approach as the system and institutions which are suppose to help are sometimes not very trustworthy, she observed.
She said WinG-Manipur works to groom women to be able to participate in decision making at all level.
The organisation has helped women in the State gain knowledge and information on issues confronting them, break down their isolation, increase their visibility and enable stronger collective voice, she said.
She further announced a TV show `Women Talk` to be telecasted in 50 weeks in collaboration with Impact TV which will be aired on the TV channel starting from Monday. A victim of VAW or officials of the concerned departments will speak on the issue in the show, she added.
Helam Haokip was accompanied by chief editor of Impact TV, Yumnam Rupachandra during the press conference.