Speaking on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Konyak said gender-based violence continues to remain one of the most common human rights violations worldwide, affecting nearly one in three women. He expressed concern over the rise in crimes against women in Kohima, noting that Mission Shakti, One Stop Centres, and the Women Helpline (181) handle several sensitive and anonymous cases due to social stigma.

He emphasised that Nagaland, being a Christian-majority state that values women, must treat such incidents with urgency. Konyak stressed that gender-based violence is not only a women’s issue but a societal challenge that requires everyone to speak up. Promoting the HeForShe campaign, he urged men to stand with women and set the right example: “Real men do not raise their hands against women; real men raise their voices with women.”

Konyak congratulated NSRLM for expanding Gender Resource Centres to seven additional RD blocks, including Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Changtongya, Pfutsero, Wokha, and Satakha. He said the new centre will offer safe spaces for survivors and serve as an important training hub for families, police, village councils, churches, and youth groups.

Social Welfare Secretary Limawabang Jamir highlighted the crucial role men must play in ending gender violence. He said Mission Shakti’s One Stop Centres have handled 1,703 cases, while Women Helpline 181 and Child Helpline 1098 together received 3,396 calls since 2016. Jamir also urged citizens to use SheBox, the online platform for reporting workplace harassment.

Both leaders called for collective action to build a Nagaland where women live, work, and walk without fear.

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Designed as a one-stop facilitation hub, the centre will provide both direct and referral-based services to women and marginalised groups. These include information dissemination, survivor support during redressal processes, and coordinated referrals to police, medical facilities, legal authorities, counsellors, One Stop Centres, and the Women and Child Development Department.

Officials said the centre will also organise legal literacy sessions and rights awareness camps, helping individuals understand and access social security schemes. Basic counselling and emotional healing services will be offered to survivors of violence and other vulnerable individuals, ensuring holistic support for affected community members.

Speaking at the inauguration, Gautam Das emphasised that the Pahi Gender Resource Centre aims to empower women by providing access to information, resources, and support systems that were previously difficult to reach. “The centre will play a critical role in creating safer, more informed, and gender-sensitive communities across the district,” he said.

By facilitating coordinated engagement between Community Institutions, service providers, and government departments, the centre is expected to address systemic and social barriers that contribute to gender-based violence, discrimination, and exclusion. Officials noted that the initiative aligns with Assam’s broader objectives of inclusive growth and women’s empowerment, helping to strengthen local governance and social accountability.

The launch of the Pahi Gender Resource Centre marks a major milestone in Baksa district’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, rights, and empowerment of women and marginalised populations.

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