31 October 2014

ICBL-CMC campaigner Binalakshmi Nepram receives threats to her safety

Binalakshmi Nepram

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Cluster Munition Coalition is extremely concerned about the reported death threats made against ICBL-CMC campaigner Binalakshmi Nepram.

Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, known to friends and colleagues as Bina, is co-founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network & the Control Arms Foundation of India, the latter of which is an ICBL-CMC member organization. Born in the state of Manipur located in India's Northeast region, Bina is a writer, civil rights activist and disarmament campaigner. For the past several years, Bina and her team at Control Arms Foundation of India have been at the forefront of research for Landmine and Cluster Munition Report for India. She hosted several high level advocacy meetings in Delhi, as well as in landmine affected states such as Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Working with Indian parliamentarians, Bina has raised the issue of landmines and cluster munitions with the aim of encouraging India to ban these indiscriminate weapons.  For close to a decade, Bina has actively contributed to the ICBL-CMC and other global disarmament movements.

In recognition of her tireless work for women led initiatives for peace and disarmament In India, Bina received the following awards:  the 2008 Dalai Lama Foundation's WISCOMP Scholar of Peace Award; the 2010 Sean MacBride Peace Prize, awarded for disarmament work; and the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award 2011. Her team at Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network won the 2011"Indian of the Year "Award in Special Achievement category. In 2013, London based organization Action on Armed Violence named Bina as one of the “100 most influential people in world working on armed violence reduction”.

Bina’s current efforts largely focus on the rights of women and children survivors of armed conflict in northeast India, and a growing trend in racism against the indigenous population in northeast India.

Bina is dedicated to fighting for the rights of others, and in furthering the disarmament cause to help make the world a safer place. The ICBL-CMC strongly condemns any threats made against Bina, calls for increased efforts to ensure her safety, and wishes her strength and courage to continue her invaluable work.