In a joint initiative led by Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace and Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network organized 5th Northeast India Indigenous Women's Peace Congregation was held on 2 April 2024 where indigenous women from several states in the region participated. This innovative project aims to promote cooperation, support gender-inclusive peacebuilding, and defend the rights of Northeast Indian indigenous tribes. The commendable initiative was led by activist Binalakshmi Nepram in Imphal in the year 2015. She hails from Manipur and has a distinctive goal to bring women from all the Northeast states together and led the foundation of understanding each other's perspectives and problems that women face due to the decade-long conflicts.
The indigenous women who have acted as leaders have come together to raise their voices against the barriers and harsh circumstances and resolve them to build a resilient community during the 5th Congregation. Northeast India acquires more than 272 different indigenous communities adding a unique diversity of customs, dialects, and cultures. In order to bring peace and harmony between these tribes, the region has struggled with issues including social marginalization and war.
Prominent female leaders from several Northeast Indian states such as Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Assam were present during the event. There were women journalists, activists, lawyers, scholars, and clinical psychologists among others belonging to diverse backgrounds. During the event, testimonies were shared by the conflict survivors. The Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and the Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace engaged the participants in the congregation to share the conventional techniques used in several Northeast Indian states for peacebuilding, reconciliation, and conflict resolution methods.
