The National Human Rights Commission organised a two-day National Conference on 'Human Rights of Women' from the 18th - 19th February, 2014 in New Delhi. The subjects for discussion covered, among others, women's sexual, reproductive & health rights including provisioning of incentives/ disincentives for adopting small family norms, violence against women, trafficking in women and girls, women's empowerment and gender equality.

Inaugurating the Conference, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC referred to various issues relating to women's welfare and underlined the importance of gender budgeting and empowerment of women at Panchayat level in all States to overcome the problem of gender inequality which he said was rooted in social system. He said that effective use of non-lapsable thousand crore 'Nirbhaya Fund' can take care of several problems of women but it cannot be said for sure that all the States have been able to use its provisions.

Dr. Syeda Hamid, Member, Planning Commission of India said that declining sex-ratio is a silent demographic disaster. Trafficking of women still looms large. The Planning Commission, deviating from earlier practice, has recognized women as engines of growth in its 12th Plan Document. It has also reflected the issues affecting their welfare.

Shri A.K. Jain, Secretary, Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, said that the role played by the traditional courts like Khap Panchayats towards women's issues required a careful study and suggestions for seeking correction in their functioning. There was still a huge gap between programmes and their delivery mechanism. The policy initiatives of the Government will bear fruits only if backed by all the stakeholders. He also added that the Government was working towards creating a Single Window System for addressing all issues concerning women's welfare through 'Poorna Shakti Kendra' under the aegis of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Among various suggestions, it was recommended that all stakeholders should be briefed on new laws, projects and programmes in a simple language which could be easily understood by them. It was also strongly felt that the media should play an important role in addressing the concerns of women and girls. It should make guidelines for depicting women. The sugg-estions/recommendations will be sent to the Government for implementation.

The participants included, among others, NHRC Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D. Murugesan, Shri Satyabrata Pal and Shri S.C. Sinha, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Founder of India Vision Foundation, Ms. Sunita Krishnan of an NGO, PRAJWALA, senior officers of the Commission, 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.

Some of the other suggestions/recommendations were as follows:
o Review, amend or abolish laws, regulations and policies that discriminate against women to bring them in line with international human rights instruments.
o Enact a new comprehensive legislation from a gender and rights perspective replacing the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
o Setup a dedicated antihuman trafficking unit with appropriate manpower and resources in all districts.
o Give pension to the victims of acid attack.
o Address with whole might of State and Law, the patriarchal, social and cultural practices perpetrating discrimination and violence against women.
o Extend the law on sexual harassment at workplace to the workers of unorganized sector with an effective complaints mechanism.
o Regulate commercial surrogacy to protect the interests and rights of surrogate mother.
o Undertake regular social auditing of institutions like Nari Niketan.
o As a re-affirmation of the nation's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, adopt a Bill of women's rights.