Officials along with the participants during the awareness programme held at Aongza Ki in Mokokchung on July 11. (Photo Courtesy: ENWO)
Mokokchung, July 11 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO), Mokokchung Unit, in collaboration with the SANKALP–District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and Sakhi One Stop Centre, organised a sensitisation programme on the theme "Protect Children and Empower Women" at Aongza Ki in Mokokchung on July 11.
The programme was chaired by ENWO Mokokchung Unit vice-president Lushian Khiamniungan. Temsula Sangtam, president of ENWO Alichen Sub-Union, offered the invocation, while ENWO Mokokchung Unit president A Mandang Phom delivered the welcome address.
In her keynote address, ENWO president Yingphe Konyak stressed the need for collective responsibility in ensuring the safety, dignity and empowerment of women and children. She urged participants to work together towards building a society free from violence, discrimination and exploitation.
The technical session featured presentations by officials from various departments.
District Mission Coordinator of DHEW, Moamenla Longkumer, spoke on women-centric government schemes and programmes aimed at the welfare and empowerment of women.
Centre Administrator of Sakhi One Stop Centre, Wangshinaro Yaden, delivered a session on gender-based violence and child marriage, highlighting legal provisions, support services available to survivors and the importance of reporting abuse.
District Supervisor of DCPU-Child Helpline, Imnatula, spoke on child protection and child labour, explaining children's rights, the harmful effects of child labour and the role of communities in preventing child abuse and exploitation.
She highlighted the services of the 1098 Child Helpline and urged the public to report cases involving children in need of care and protection.
Imnatula also emphasised that child protection is a fundamental right of every child and explained key legal provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Child Labour Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
She appealed to the public to educate children instead of employing them as labourers and stressed the need for greater awareness of offences under the POCSO Act and the legal penalties for offenders.
An interactive question-and-answer session was held after the presentations.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by ENWO Mokokchung Unit general secretary Esther Sangtam, followed by a closing prayer. Refreshments were served to the participants.
