Indian women unable to access benefits provided by the Constitution: Chairperson, NHRC
The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Justice A.S. Anand has expressed the view that Indian women have been unable to reap the benefits provided for them under the Constitution of India. He was delivering the keynote address at a function organized by the UN Information Centre, New Delhi; on International Women's Day. The theme of the function was “Women's Empowerment -- the Key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.
The Chairperson said that in tune with the various provisions of the Constitution, the State had enacted many women-specific and women-related laws for the protection of women against social discrimination and social ills. Notwithstanding the enactment of laws relating to dowry, rape, violence against women and other matters, the factual position was distressing. There was a sharp decline in juvenile sex ratio; continuing high maternal and infant mortality rate; high gender gap in literacy at all levels; high rate of drop-outs for girl students; and increasing incidence of crime against women.
Justice Anand therefore called for the social empowerment of women through better education, health, nutrition, drinking water and sanitation, housing and shelter, environmental protection, science and technology and focus on women in difficult circumstances, in addition to their economic empowerment. There was also need for a targeted effort to ensure that the rights of women in difficult circumstances were protected.
The Chairperson felt that as long as there was disparity between the male and the female in education levels, inequality in the position of men and women would continue to exist. It is unfortunate that a woman has, even in her own home, a rather subordinate role to play. Calling for economic independence of women, as a step of paramount importance for the emancipation of women, Justice Anand said that emphasis must also be laid on the total development of women -- creating awareness among them about their rights and responsibilities – and a recognition of their vital role at home. Society must respond and change its attitude.
The Chairperson, in his address, stressed the importance of reproductive rights of women and elaborated on the subject of gender and HIV/AIDS.
The full text of his address is available on www.nhrc.nic.in.
The Chairperson said that in tune with the various provisions of the Constitution, the State had enacted many women-specific and women-related laws for the protection of women against social discrimination and social ills. Notwithstanding the enactment of laws relating to dowry, rape, violence against women and other matters, the factual position was distressing. There was a sharp decline in juvenile sex ratio; continuing high maternal and infant mortality rate; high gender gap in literacy at all levels; high rate of drop-outs for girl students; and increasing incidence of crime against women.
Justice Anand therefore called for the social empowerment of women through better education, health, nutrition, drinking water and sanitation, housing and shelter, environmental protection, science and technology and focus on women in difficult circumstances, in addition to their economic empowerment. There was also need for a targeted effort to ensure that the rights of women in difficult circumstances were protected.
The Chairperson felt that as long as there was disparity between the male and the female in education levels, inequality in the position of men and women would continue to exist. It is unfortunate that a woman has, even in her own home, a rather subordinate role to play. Calling for economic independence of women, as a step of paramount importance for the emancipation of women, Justice Anand said that emphasis must also be laid on the total development of women -- creating awareness among them about their rights and responsibilities – and a recognition of their vital role at home. Society must respond and change its attitude.
The Chairperson, in his address, stressed the importance of reproductive rights of women and elaborated on the subject of gender and HIV/AIDS.
The full text of his address is available on www.nhrc.nic.in.