UN REPORT ON WOMENS RIGHT: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

UN REPORT ON WOMENS RIGHT: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

NEWS: Women's rights weakened in a quarter of all countries, UN says

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

India has made significant progress in gender equality through initiatives aligned with the Beijing Declaration, focusing on health, education, economic empowerment, and leadership. Continued efforts, including the Women's Reservation Bill and gender-responsive budgeting, aim to further strengthen women's rights and inclusion.

 

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)

  • Overview of the Beijing Declaration:
  • The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, is a comprehensive global framework for advancing women's rights and gender equality.
  • It was a key milestone in global gender equality efforts, uniting leaders from 189 countries, including India, to address 12 critical areas of concern for women.
  • The areas of focus included: poverty reduction, education, health, combating violence against women, economic empowerment, and increasing women's influence in decision-making processes.

 

India’s Progress in Gender Equality

  • Key Areas of Focus:
  • India’s progress in gender equality has been driven by a combination of policy efforts, grassroots movements, and the resilience of women and girls.
  • Over the past three decades, India has made significant strides in various areas aligned with the Beijing Platform for Action.

 

Visible Evidence of Change in India

  1. Health and Maternal Care:
    • Maternal Health Care Initiatives:
      • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have significantly improved maternal health care.
      • These initiatives increased institutional deliveries to 95% and reduced maternal mortality from 130 to 97 deaths per 100,000 births between 2014 and 2020.
    • Contraceptive Use:
      • Over 56.5% of married women now use modern contraceptives, enhancing reproductive health choices.
  1. Healthcare Access and Empowerment:
    • Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana:
      • This health insurance scheme has given millions of women access to free medical treatment, improving their health outcomes and well-being.
  1. Education and Gender Inclusion:
    • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Program and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:
      • These programs have played a vital role in increasing girls' enrollment in schools and encouraging them to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
  1. Economic Empowerment:
    • National Rural and Urban Livelihood Missions:
      • These programs have connected 100 million women to financial networks and self-help groups, boosting their entrepreneurship and economic independence.
  1. Digital Inclusion:
    • Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan:
      • This initiative has trained over 35 million rural women in digital literacy, bridging the digital gender divide and empowering them to access online resources and opportunities.
  1. Gender-Responsive Budgeting:
    • Gender-responsive budgeting has increased to 8.8% of the national budget in 2025-26, with $55.2 billion allocated to gender-specific programs. This highlights India’s commitment to women’s empowerment in economic policy.

 

Addressing Gender-Based Violence

  • Initiatives to Combat Gender-Based Violence:
  • One Stop Centres:
      • Over 770 One Stop Centres have been established to provide medical, legal, and psychological support to survivors of gender-based violence.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023:
      • This new legal framework, effective from July 2024, strengthens protections for women and ensures more robust responses to violence against women.
  • Innovative Responses to Violence:
  • Blockchain-Based System in Odisha:
      • Odisha’s blockchain-based system ensures confidential and swift support for survivors of violence, enhancing their access to justice.
  • Gender-Responsive Policing:
      • Initiatives such as the partnership between the UN Population Fund and Rajasthan Police improve trust and access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence.

 

Promoting Women’s Leadership

  • Young Women’s Leadership:
  • Programs like Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) aim to promote women in STEM, equipping young women with the skills to succeed in emerging technologies.
  • The G20 TechEquity Platform has trained thousands of women in new technologies, contributing to their leadership in digital and tech fields.
  • Women’s Political Representation:
  • The Women’s Reservation Bill aims to guarantee 33% legislative representation for women, further empowering women in political decision-making roles.
  • India has seen a significant increase in women’s political leadership, with 1.5 million women leaders at the local level, making India the country with the largest cohort of female political leaders globally.

 

A Guiding Framework for Future Efforts

  • Beijing Platform for Action’s Continued Influence:
  • The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration reiterates the importance of gender equality as a global imperative, beyond being merely a women’s issue.
  • India’s progress has been supported by strong government leadership and local and global partnerships, including collaboration with organizations like UN Women.
  • Moving Forward:
  • To continue advancing gender equality, it will be essential to:
      • Strengthen collaborations between governments, civil society, and the private sector.
      • Invest in young women’s leadership and address systemic barriers to their progress.
      • Focus on women-led development, financial inclusion, and social transformation, ensuring the sustainability of these gains.
  • Global Benchmark for Inclusive Growth:
  • India’s progress in gender equality, supported by the Beijing Platform for Action, is setting a global benchmark for inclusive and sustainable growth. India’s efforts highlight the importance of investing in women’s empowerment for broader societal progress.

 

Conclusion: India’s continued focus on women’s empowerment, backed by policies and programs addressing health, education, economic inclusion, and leadership, reflects a strong commitment to gender equality. With the Beijing Platform for Action as a guiding framework, India is moving forward with a vision for an inclusive, equitable future for women and girls.

 

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/womens-rights-weakened-in-a-quarter-of-all-countries-un-says/article69297426.ece