From November 2019 to January 2020, Seng Kynthei – the Women’s Wing of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India – organized a variety of violence awareness and prevention programs involving over 600 schoolchildren, youth, and adults in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The initiative took off with a radio talk on November 25, 2019 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children. Programs were held in Lawsohtun, the Unitarian Secondary School in Puriang, Ksehrynshang Vill, and in churches of the Shillong Circle (Nongthymmai, Nongkrem, Mawkasiang, and Mawlai).
Experiences, ideas, solutions, and prevention methods were shared and proposed to eliminate violence against women and children in Khasi communities in Meghalaya. Men were asked to wear white ribbons as a symbol of their opposition to violence against women, and pledge together to report incidences, be vigilant, and commit to ending violence. Village leaders shared regulations adopted in their villages to curb violence, support the victims to get justice, and bring perpetrators to the law.
We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the UUNEI who have given us their support in all our endeavours. We are also indebted to the International Women’s Convocation’s sponsorship of this initiative through a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, and for their trust in us to carry out these activities with the hope and intention to bring about positive changes – the safety and security of all our women and children in our communities.