DIMAPUR, OCT 16 (NPN): Central Nagaland Women Association (CNWA), in collaboration with the Nagaland Alliance for Children & Women Rights (NACWR), has called for sustained action against gender-based violence, urging churches, apex tribal bodies and community leaders to move beyond public condemnation and ensure accountability for perpetrators. The call was made during a panel discussion on “Performative Outrage to Collective Action: Ending Gender Based Violence” at Li-Complex Conference Hall, Urban Haat, Dimapur, on Friday.
The programme was chaired by Sisterhood Network director and NACWR president Azungla James, while senior pastor of Lotha Baptist Church, Dimapur, Rev. Dr. Yanbemo Lotha pronounced the invocation. In her keynote address, CNWA president Dr. Anungla Aier said gender-based violence was rooted in cultural conditioning, patriarchal mindsets and stereotypes portraying women as weak and unable to defend their rights.
She said awareness programmes, rallies and public condemnation would have little lasting impact without concrete action and long-term measures. Institutions, she stressed, must establish practical mechanisms to provide emergency assistance to survivors, adding that a lack of resources should not prevent organisations from extending help. She also urged churches, tribal bodies and civil society groups to work together to establish support systems, noting that gender-based violence affected all tribes, religions and communities.
Central Nagaland Tribes Council president Hukiye Yepthomi said Nagaland had witnessed enough seminars and public condemnation, and the focus must now shift to implementation. He called on tribal leaders, village authorities and Gaon Burahs (GBs) to take grassroots action, including adopting and enforcing measures against gender-based violence. Hukiye cautioned against misusing Christian teachings on forgiveness to shield offenders from accountability, stressing that forgiveness should not overlook wrongdoing and perpetrators must acknowledge their actions and face appropriate consequences.
During the panel discussion, moderated by Sisterhood Network’s Arenzungla Jamir, Eleutheros Christian Society secretary Rev. Dr. Chingmak Chang said patriarchal mindsets and social attitudes contributed to gender-based violence. He urged churches, tribal organisations and civil society groups to establish practical support systems, noting that survivors often faced lifelong trauma and difficulties reintegrating into society. A safe environment, he said, was essential for survivors to rebuild confidence and live with dignity, without stigma or discrimination. Rev. Dr. Chang also urged community leaders to address the issue within their organisations and organise awareness activities during the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence, observed from November 25 to December 10.
Nagaland Baptist Church Council secretary for social concern Dr. Villo Naleo discussed forgiveness, accountability and justice from a Christian perspective. Drawing on restorative justice, he said forgiveness did not mean forgetting wrongdoing, condoning abuse or abandoning justice. Accountability required offenders to acknowledge the harm caused and take responsibility for their actions. Dr. Naleo highlighted victim-centred support, community participation, reparation and survivor reintegration, calling on churches to establish long-term institutional mechanisms rather than limiting their response to prayers or one-time charitable assistance.
Nagaland University Department of Law assistant professor Dr. Sentikumla highlighted the relationship between customary practices and constitutional justice. She said customs and traditions must evolve with society and should not justify practices that undermine women’s dignity, safety and rights. No woman, she stressed, should face abuse in the name of family honour, and no survivor should be denied justice through customary settlements.
During the question-and-answer session, participants raised concerns about church support for survivors and the gap between public condemnation and institutional responses when incidents occurred within congregations. Responding, Dr. Naleo said churches needed to provide sustained assistance through their Social Concerns departments and develop long-term plans to address survivors’ needs.
Participants also called for a review of patriarchal attitudes and customary practices, stressing that community institutions must not pressure survivors into silence or compromise and that accountability must remain central to efforts to end gender-based violence. Nagaland GBs Federation general secretary Shikuto Zalipu delivered a brief message. A visual presentation featuring victims and survivors was screened, followed by a solo song expressing solidarity with them.
Resolutions adopted: The gathering adopted resolutions calling for concrete measures to prevent gender-based violence and strengthen survivor support.
It urged NBCC, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, Asia Harvest Alliance, other church denominations and associations to strengthen their Social Concerns departments, establish an emergency trust fund and create accessible, confidential support and referral mechanisms linking survivors with churches and appropriate service providers. Church organisations were also asked to review and amend their manuals and policies to strengthen accountability.
The gathering called on tribal bodies to jointly approach the state government for a trauma centre and long-term rehabilitation centres for survivors, including support for reintegration into society, and advocated similar facilities in other districts. It called for a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence, urging tribal bodies and community leaders to reject compromises imposed in the name of social norms or customary practices. Communities were asked to support survivors and ensure customary intervention did not replace legal processes where required.
The resolutions stressed that no case should be compromised, suppressed or subjected to forced settlement in the name of family honour, community reputation, social harmony, customary practices or religious considerations. No institution or individual should pressure survivors to withdraw complaints, remain silent, accept imposed settlements or return to unsafe environments. The gathering affirmed that perpetrators must be held accountable under the law, irrespective of their social status, family background, position, influence, tribal affiliation or religious standing. Forgiveness, it stated, must never be imposed on survivors or used to excuse abuse, evade legal consequences or compel reconciliation with perpetrators.
Church organisations and tribal bodies were urged to form committees, deliberate on the proposals and communicate their decisions and proposed action plans to CNWA and NACWR within a reasonable timeframe. The two organisations would coordinate with stakeholders to monitor progress and facilitate implementation.
Another resolution called on NGBF, in collaboration with CNWA and NACWR, to approach apex tribal bodies and urge the state government to review the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act, 1978, to clearly define village councils’ roles, powers and limitations in addressing gender-based violence against women and children. Customary practices, it stressed, must remain consistent with the law, and survivors must not be coerced into settlements.
The gathering also urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive baseline survey on gender-based violence to generate reliable data for evidence-based policymaking and effective preventive and remedial measures.
The resolutions were drafted by advocates Nathaniel Kevichusa, Limasenla Longkumer and Esther K. Aye, along with CNWA joint secretary Ajano Lotha.
The programme concluded with a thanksgiving by NEISSR founder-principal and Catholic Church Nagaland representative Dr. Fr. C.P. Anto.
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