Imphal, October 31: A three-day-event aptly entitled 'Celebrating the work of peace women in solidarity with Sharmila' has begun from today at the centenary hall of Manipur University to mark the 6th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Irom Chanu Sharmila's hunger strike against human rights violations by Armed forces in Manipur under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.


A post card exhibition of the 1000 women for peace who were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at MU

With the stated objective of showing solidarity to peace women and to connect the struggle that Sharmila stands for with the global struggle for peace and justice, the event is being jointly organised by Human Rights Alert (HRA), North East Network (NEN), ANHAD, South Asia Network of Gender Activist and Trainers (SANGAT), Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Peace Women Across the Globe, KRITI, PEACE, INSAF, Aman Trust and WISCOMP and other local civil organisations.

Photo exhibition of the 1000 peace women from across the globe who were nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 2005, film shows on peace women, panel discussion, book release, etc were some of the main highlights of the event which will go on for three days.

The event started off with lighting of the ceremonial lamp jointly by Maya Saha Imte of Meghalaya, Barubara Raba of Assam and mother of Irom Sharmila Chanu.

Imte, Bara and Chanu were among the 1000 peace women nominated from the North East region for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 under the initiative of Peace Women Across the Globe Network.

Apart from inaugurating the photo exhibition of 1000 peace women and screening a film titled '1000 women and dream', a panel discussion on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was facilitated with Prof Ksh Bimola Devi as moderator and president of Kuki Mothers' Association Rose Mangshi and social worker Valley Rose as panellists.

Significantly, it was on this day, six years back that UN Security Council passed its resolution number 1325, the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addressed the impact of war on women and their contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

In her observation, Prof Bimola said discussion on the resolution no.1325 of UN Security Council is relevant in the present context of Manipur.

Being a member State of UN, the Government of India should encourage participation of women in the decision making process not only at the National and State level but also at the regional and local level in true spirit of the said resolution.

Taking part in the discussion as a panellist, Rose Mangi noted Manipuri women have been at the forefront of various movement including at the time of resolution of the Naga-Kuki Ethnic crisis during 1993 or in the ongoing agitation for removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur.

Valley Rose, another panellist said the struggle of Irom Chanu Sharmila should not be viewed as an isolated struggle of an individual woman, but of all women around the globe.

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