New Delhi: 14th February, 2014
During the two decades of its existence since October, 1993, the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission to protect and promote the rights of women relating to discrimination against women and gender-related violence have evolved into a variety of inter-connected ways. In its efforts to keep in focus the various issues relating to the welfare of women and girls, the Commission is organising a two-day National Conference on 'Human Rights of Women' from the 18th to 19th February, 2014 at Multi-Purpose Hall, India International Centre, Kamladevi Block, 40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi - 110 003.
The main objectives of the Conference will be to:
i) discuss ways to prevent and eliminate violence against women in the light of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 including the recommendations not incorporated in the above Act and the 'Bill to Rights' formulated by the Justice Verma Committee, especially the section on 'Right to Life, Security and Bodily Integrity';
ii) focus on measures to eliminate trafficking in women and girls including steps for their protection, assistance and redressal and also take up necessary action for implementation of CEDAW, Trafficking Protocol (2000), IPOA and Amman Programme of Action;
iii) address issues relating to women's sexual and reproductive health rights in line with ICPD and recommendations of the Second Universal Periodic Review accepted by the Government of India including elimination of discriminatory and coercive measures from population policies of States/Union Territories impacting on women; and
iv) discuss strategies for strengthening women's empowerment and gender equality.
Over the years, the National Human Rights Commission has made several recommendations to the Government for protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. During 1994-95, recommended vigorous implementation of the country's obligations under the CEDAW and recommended that well-coordinated steps be taken up to act upon the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at Beijing. The violation of rights of women was next considered from the angle of health and the issue of maternal anemia was identified as a rights issue in 1996-97. In 2000, it focused on Human Rights and HIV/AIDS and Public Health and Human Rights and covered issues impacting the rights of women. During 1999-2000, the Commission made a number of recommendations for the elimination of gender discrimination, in the light of the concluding observations made by the CEDAW Committee on India's first country report and the concluding observations and recommendations made by the CRC Committee on India's initial country report.
In 2000-01, the Commission analysed the human rights dimensions of Census 2001, and called for a concerted effort to end the misuse of sex-determination tests. It also designated one of its Members to serve as the Focal Point on Human Rights of Women, including matters relating to trafficking. It also took keen interest in the implementation of Vishaka Guidelines by the Supreme Court on preventing and combating sexual harassment of women at workplace. In 2002, it examined the provisions of the Protection from Domestic Violence Bill and follow up the issue till the enactment of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
In 2003, the NHRC organised a Colloquium on Population Policy, Development and Human Rights and took up the issue of incentives/disincentives in the population policies of State Governments/Union Territories vis-à-vis the National Population Policy. During 2007-08, it undertook a collaborative research with UNFPA entitled 'Research and Review to Strengthen Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act's implementation across Key States'.
In January, 2013, the Commission had organised a National Conference on Violence against Women in the wake of brutal rape and death of a young girl in Delhi. A list of recommendation, suggestions, which emanated from the deliberations were forwarded to the Justice Verma Committee constituted for purposes of bringing about amendments in the Criminal Law.
The Commission has also participated in the international conferences on women and girls rights related issues and in November, 2012, the ICC conference adopted the Amman Declaration and Programme of Action, which emphasized that despite commitments made through human rights treaties for women and girls, 'the human rights of billions of women and girls are violated and denied'. Therefore, the Programme of Action has set out a number of action points for NHRIs over the next decade and beyond and this has given further impetus to the NHRC's commitment to work for the protection and promotion of women's rights through various means including organising seminars and conferences.
The participants in the two-day National Conference, scheduled to be held from the 18th - 19th February, 2014 will include officers from Ministries of Women and Child Development, Home Affairs, Labour, External Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Health and Family Welfare, representatives of international, non-governmental, civil society organisations, National Commissions and State Commissions.
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