Manipur records 98 cases of violence against women, children in 2025: WAD

Imphal: A total of 98 cases of crime against women and children were reported between January and October 2025 in this strife-torn Manipur.

These included 9 cases of rape, 15 murders, 7 suicides, 4 suspicious deaths, 18 molestations, 12 missing cases, 8 assaults (under POCSO), and 4 delivery-related deaths, along with several other cases of attempted rape, medical negligence, and trafficking.

This was stated in a statement issued by the Women Action for Development (WAD), a voluntary organisation, as a part of the "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence" campaign under the theme, "Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls," which kicked off on Tuesday in Imphal.

Founded in 1990 in Manipur, WAD focuses on improving the status of women in all aspects of life, from social and economic to political and health-related.

The campaign is a global campaign running annually from November 25 to December 10, ending on International Human Rights Day.

Hechin Haokip, Executive Director of the Centre for Women and Girls (CWG), Tengnoupal District Administration, Manipur, has stated that over 120 cases have been reported to CWG alone in the past five years from Tengnoupal and Chandel districts in the state.

Haokip was speaking at a campaign at the ZEO Relief Camp in Tengnoupal district on Tuesday.

She emphasised the urgent need to address violence against women and girls in conflict-affected and fragile regions, where they face heightened risks of sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking.

She highlighted the lack of essential infrastructure in the district, including courts, women’s police stations, safe reporting mechanisms, shelters, and trained personnel, which perpetuates a culture of silence and impunity.

She also drew attention to the trivialization of sexual violence in tribal customary court practices and the growing concern of digital violence against women and girls.

Haokip called for renewed commitment to end violence against women and girls, strengthen humanitarian support, expand access to justice, and build survivor-centred services.

She emphasised the importance of women’s leadership in peacebuilding, governance, and digital safety, and urged the community to unite in defence of women’s rights and dignity.