The 5th Northeast India Indigenous Women's Peace Congregation concluded with the recognition of Gumri Ringu, former president of Arunachal Pradesh Women's Welfare Society (APWWS), as the recipient of the International Women Peace Award for 2024. The award was presented by Supreme Court judge, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, and bestowed by E-Mediation Writings (EMW) International, a leading online magazine. Gumri Ringu was honored for her dedication to promoting peace and creating a more respectful and peaceful society through education and expertise. The award ceremony took place during the Congregation, which aimed to promote gender-inclusive peacebuilding and champion the rights of Indigenous communities in Northeast India. Ringu expressed her gratitude to the members of E-Mediation Writings for recognizing her work, while EMW coordinator-in-chief Pusshp Gupta highlighted the organization's commitment to fostering discourse on mediation globally. [d2071ae8] [d3ce4a4a]
Birubala Rabha, a Padma Shri awardee and prominent human rights activist, passed away at around 9:23 am on May 13, 2024, while undergoing treatment at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati. She had been battling cancer in its third stage and was admitted to the institute on April 22, 2024. The Assam Government had pledged to cover her medical expenses. Rabha played a pivotal role in the passing of the Prevention of and Protection from Witch Hunting Act, 2015, and her organization, Mission Birubala, continues to raise awareness about the perils of witch-hunting. She was honored with the Padma Shri award in 2021. Her passing marks the end of a chapter in the fight for human rights and social justice in Assam and beyond. [74055e7a]
The Arunachal Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) has registered a complaint filed by Rita Chakma against Drishyamuni Chakma for forgery and cheating. Rita Chakma alleges that Drishyamuni Chakma obtained a forged voter ID without providing proof of residence and violated the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 by staying in Arunachal Pradesh without an Inner Line Permit. The complaint was initially filed on 1 June 2023, and despite hearings and appeals, no action has been taken against Drishyamuni Chakma. The APSHRC has directed the Electoral Registration Officer and District Electoral Officer to submit a reply within 15 days or face coercive action. [6c6c5a1b]
Dr Priya Srinivasan has received the inaugural Impact Award at the Asia Pacific Arts Awards, held by Creative Australia at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre in April. A total of 51 entries were received for the awards, aimed at recognizing Australian artists, organizations, and collectives engaging in significant cross-cultural work across the Asia Pacific. Dr Srinivasan is thrilled to have been recognized for work exploring feminist decolonization, rooted in her Bharatanatyam training. The Asia Pacific Arts Awards were reinstated after an 11-year hiatus as part of the Government’s National Cultural Policy - Revive. Dr Srinivasan hopes that culture will play a valuable role in the Government’s foreign affairs priorities in the coming years and that the visibility of diverse artists and their contributions will continue under Revive. [8e311d22]
Indian Army Major Radhika Sen has been selected to receive the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from the United Nations. The award recognizes her advocacy for women and girls while serving as a peacekeeper. Major Sen served with the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) where she helped create the Community Alert Networks in North Kivu. She worked with her colleagues to address security and humanitarian concerns in the region. Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the award. She is a biotech engineer from Himachal Pradesh and served with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion. The award will be presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. [a26b48f9]
Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, the first active-duty Miss America, will keynote the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier's annual Niagara Awards: A Tribute to Women. The ceremony will take place on October 22, 2024, at Wurlitzer Events in North Tonawanda. The awards recognize women who have made significant contributions to Niagara and Erie counties in line with the YWCA's mission. Marsh, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, is currently serving in the Air Force and is pursuing a master's degree in public policy. The YWCA has opened the nominating process for the awards in various categories. [8c5fbd2c]