Journalist from northeast India, Kashmiri activist among 10 South Asian ‘peace builders’ felicitated at Saahas Awards
The jury ended up shortlisting ten awardees, including journalist Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times who was honoured with the Saahas Shrestha: Shero of Courage award.
Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times, receiving the Saahas Award. (Photo: WISCOMP) The ‘Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace’ (WISCOMP) organisation Monday felicitated ten ‘peace builders’ working with women in conflict areas at the Saahas Awards Ceremony in Delhi.
An initiative of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the ceremony took place at the India International Centre. People and peace negotiators from across South Asia were awarded for their “work with women to build peace at the grassroots in areas of protracted conflict,” said an official release.
The jury ended up shortlisting ten awardees, including journalist Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times who was honoured with the Saahas Shrestha: Shero of Courage award for her extraordinary contributions to building peace across multiple fault lines in India’s northeast. “The challenges persist because we don’t know the steps towards conflict transformation. We jump to resolution,” said Patricia in her speech.
Apart from Mukhim, Laxmi Chetri from Action Northeast Trust and Deepa Pawar from Anubhuti Charitable Trust respectively received the Shakti Award for their contribution to women subjected to gender-based violence and marginalised women from nomadic communities.
Meanwhile, Conflict Victim Women National Network, Nepal, and activist Omar Hafiz bagged the Chetna Award for their work in psycho-social support for female victims of conflict in Nepal and for gender rights in Kashmir respectively.
Neatherland’s Ambassador Marisa Gerards, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann along with Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India among others facilitated the awardees. (File image)
Netherlands’ Ambassador Marisa Gerards, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann, along with Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India, among others facilitated the awardees. This edition of the Saahas Awards is particularly significant as WISCOMP celebrates 25 years of work on promoting South Asian women’s leadership in peace and security.
WISCOMP Director, Dr Meenakshi Gopinath said, “WISCOMP through this effort is bringing powerful voices that seek to build and nurture cultures of peace in South Asia and who have worked ceaselessly to transcend narrow borders and boundaries. In highlighting the experiences of those on the margins impacted by conflict and violence, this is a powerful message to keep hope alive through the work of these fearless, intrepid advocates – the Saahasis (the courageous).”
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