By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 13: The Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim has been awarded the ‘Saahas Shrestha’: Shero (Lion) of Courage 2024 by Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP).
According to a statement here, Mukhim has been awarded in recognition of her fearless journalism. “Mukhim continues to work tirelessly across ethnic fault lines in India’s North-eastern states. This writer has seen Mukhim, a household name in Shillong, in action, taking a group of politicians to task for being misogynist,” the statement said.
It also referred to Mukhim’s bold stance against misogyny during the 2022 Meghalaya Assembly election.
“Ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections in Meghalaya, every contending political party in the state had organised a public round table meeting, to outline their party agendas. After they finished, the diminutive Mukhim walked up to the lectern and told the candidates that they and their parties ought to be ashamed for their misogyny. There wasn’t a single woman among the eight representatives of all the political parties, including the national ones. The stunned contenders didn’t know where to look as the audience exploded in applause at her words!,” the statement said.
It is pertinent to note that this year’s WISCOMP Saahas Awards celebrate 10 exceptional individuals and organisations who have contributed to peacebuilding and gender justice in South Asia’s conflict-ridden areas.
“Their work spans countering gender-based violence and cultures of misogyny in Afghanistan, advocating for the rights of minority communities in Bangladesh, facilitating inter-faith dialogues in Pakistan and championing the rights of denotified tribes in India,” the statement said.
The Saahas Shakti Awards were presented to four remarkable individuals.
Laxmi Chetri, a peacebuilder from the neighbouring state of Assam, received the award for her efforts to support domestic violence survivors and marginalised women in the Bodoland Territorial Region while Deepa Pawar from Maharashtra was acknowledged for her work with Nomadic and De-notified Tribes, fostering education, leadership, and gender justice.
Similarly, an anonymous Afghan woman was honoured for her advocacy of gender equality and peacebuilding amidst the turmoil in Afghanistan. Another anonymous awardee, a social activist from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, was recognised for her work empowering women and girls, especially refugees.
Meanwhile, a total of four women have been selected for Saahas-e-Azim Awards.
Saeeda Diep from Pakistan was honoured for championing minority rights through interfaith dialogue and cultural harmony whilst Indian journalist and activist Ruchira Gupta was recognised for her efforts to combat sex trafficking through Apne Aap Women Worldwide.
Similarly, Mossarat Qadeem from Pakistan received the award for her work promoting community resilience and countering violent extremism through the PAIMAN Trust, while Beena Sarwar, a journalist and filmmaker from Pakistan, was acknowledged for her initiatives fostering India-Pakistan dialogue and gender equality.
Meanwhile, Omar Hafiz from Kashmir has been selected for the Saahas Chetna Award in recognition of his work empowering trans persons and sexual minorities by creating safe spaces and promoting gender equality.
The Conflict Victim Women National Network (CVWNN) in Nepal, a grassroots organisation advocating for the rights of women affected by insurgency, has been selected for the Saahas Mashal Award.
Focused on transitional justice and gender-sensitive peacebuilding, CVWNN provides psychosocial support, legal aid and leadership opportunities to women survivors of violence.
It may be mentioned that the awardees will receive citations, shawls and unique plaques during a ceremony which will be held on Monday in New Delhi.