Representation of Women in Peace Negotiation Bill 2016 submitted to Parliament of India

13 December 2016, New Delhi – On the
commemoration of historic Nupi Lan or Women’s War of 1904 and 1939 held
on 12 December at Constitution Club, Members of Parliament gave
assurance to work to include history of Nupi Lan in history books,
ensure women in decision making. Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network is
also delighted to share successful submission of “Representation of
Women in Peace Negotiations Bill, 2016” in Parliament of India to
recognise stake of women in conflict and ensure peace negotiation
maintain gender parity. No peace talks in Northeast without our women
should be held.

Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of
Parliament, highlighted the severe problem of violence against women in
the country and said that all governments wanted to put forward
reservation of women in the Parliament. Reservation of women has been
passed in the Panchayat Raj with women getting 33 per cent reservation.
However, the same bill with 50 per cent reservation for women in
legislative assemblies was passed in the Rajya Sabha and not in the Lok
Sabha. The Manipur Government is fully committed to pass this bill if it
is tabled in the Lok Sabha. Two bills given by CAFI regarding
Protection of Women in disturbed areas and Representation of Women in
Peace Negotiation Committee have been submitted in the Parliament, he
further told.

Dr Thokchom Meinya was speaking on the
commemoration of historic Nupi Lan and parliamentarians briefing. The
event was conducted by Control Arms Foundation of India along with
Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Northeast India Women Initiative
for Peace at the Constitution Club, New Delhi.

Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, General
Secretary, Control Arms Foundation of India, said that the objective of
this event was to delve into the relevant issues of understanding Women,
Peace and Security, Gender Based Violence and Diversity with the policy
makers of India to come out with comprehensive laws for a gender just
and egalitarian society. India signed UN convention on racial
discrimination and it’s time for country to make an anti-racial law and
adopt measures to end Gender Based Violence, she further said.

Nupi Lan –which means women’s war in
Manipuri. It is a landmark event in the history of Manipur where the
Manipuri women waged two historic struggles in 1904 and 1939. This was
against mass exploitation and artificial famine triggered by the
British. The movement contributed much to the making of Manipur as it
sowed the seeds of economic and political reforms. Since then the day
has been of immense importance and it has been observed to honour and
remember the courage of Manipuri women who fought against the mighty
British and the traders to ensure social and economic development of
people.

The country has a population of 1.34
billion people out of which 48 per cent are women. Even though the
Republic of India is premised upon Rule of Law which establishes basic
Constitutional guarantees of Right to Life, Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity. The social fabric of the country relegates women to the
secondary status which has built a glass ceiling which prevents them
from experiencing their basic Constitutional Rights. Harsh reality of
life is such that every 22 minutes a woman is raped in the county.
Participation of women in workforce has reduced from 35 per cent to 25
per cent. There are mere 12.5 per cent women in the Legislative
Assembly. Budgetary allocation to women empowerment has also reduced to
49 per cent in the 2015-16 Annual Budget.

The event was attended by Members of Parliament, academicians, journalists, researchers and civil society representatives.

For any questions and clarifications, kindly contact

Office of Control Arms Foundation of India/ Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace
B B5 / 146, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India
Phone: +91-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234
Web: www.cafi-online.org