Life on the Border

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size

Notes on contributor

Sharna de Lacy holds a Masters in International and Community Development, and works as a feminist activist specializing in disarmament, and peace and security issues. She is the coordinator of the International Young WILPF Network, a global movement of younger women involved with the historic Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Sharna writes regularly for Australian media, and is editor of the online feminist publication http://sassmouth.org/. She is currently based in Melbourne but travels regularly, working with feminist activists on issues of militarization, disarmament and the prevention of violence against women.

Notes

1 The declaration of a “disturbed” area triggers the extension of emergency security laws under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (discussed in more detail below), which confers extraordinary “special powers” to military personnel deployed to the area. Declared disturbed areas extend across north-east India and, Jammu, and Kashmir. The government of India maintains that there is no armed conflict in the country, and thus does not accept the applicability of international humanitarian law in these areas.

2 Section 6 of the Act protects members of the armed forces from prosecution without prior approval by the central government. The approval process is very difficult to apply for and seldom successful.

3 Women-led groups and organizations include the following: Tangkhul Women's League; Naga Mothers; Meira Paibis; Borok People's Human Rights Organization; Kuki Mother's Association; Kangleipak Women's Welfare Association; Widow's Welfare Association; Nedan Foundation; and Apunba Nupi Lup. These groups often collaborate across ethnic and political boundaries on common issues affecting women and their communities.

4 Pseudonym used to protect the identity of the individual.

5 Pseudonym used to protect the identity of the individual.