The
importance and dire need of women safety globally
In the spate of rising incidents of violence
being reported against women, the government is taking making a number of
measures to address the issue so as to increase the safety, and security of
women. The effort is now increasingly towards holistic intervention with a view
to balance both preventive and curative aspects, including a thrust on proper
and effective implementation of various laws and provisions available for
safety of girls/women .
The recently held 57th Session of the
UN Commission on Status of Women in New York from March 4th-15th,
2013 served as an important platform for the world leaders,
administrators and experts to deliberate on the issue since elimination and
prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls was the theme of
this year’s discussion. The occasion gave an opportunity to the Indian
delegation led by Minister, WCD, Ms Krishna Tirath, who was accompanied by Ms Rashmi Singh, Executive Director, National
Mission for Empowerment of Women, and Joint Secretary ( NMEW), Ms Preeti Madaan
to highlight what India has recently done on the issue and also share the various women empowerment and child
development initiatives in India. The deliberations led to an agreed conclusion
by the member states during the 2nd week in which Ms Ratna Prabha,
Additional Secretary & MD, NMEW, and Ms Indira Jaising, Additional
Solicitor General took part in the negotiation rounds with the member states.
168 countries including more than 70
ministers participated in the plenary meeting. They were also joined by non-
governmental organizations, think tanks and other civic society members.
WCD minister Krishna Tirath, delivered
country’s statement during the discussion highlighting the measures taken in
the spate of the recent incident of horrific rape, commonly known as the ‘
Nirbhay’ case.She briefed the gathering about the latest laws passed by the
government like the Prevention of Sexual
Harassment of Women at workplace, 2013 and protection of children from sexual
offences Act 2012. She explained how the two laws, and the amendment in the
Criminal Procedure Act underway will
bring more stringent punishments to the perpetrators of violence against women
and children. The measures related to development of protocols for police, medical functionaries,
and other service providers to improve
coordination of response to victims of
violence, plan of setting up of One Stop
Crisis Centers for Women in hundred identified critical districts with the aim
to provide integrated services required by women subjected to violence was also shared. Minister, WCD shared the
concept of Ahimsa Messengers (peace messengers), Saksham scheme,
and the enhanced allocations in the budget 2013-14 for women.
A
number of side events were organized by different NGOs on the occasion too. In
some of these, members from the Indian delegation were invited to make
presentations on thematic issues connected with the focus area of the CSW. There was consensus
of in all the deliberations that there is a need to
work towards empowerment of women economically and socially. Woman should be
strong enough to question the gender stereotypes, and the relevance of deeply
held beliefs and social attitudes towards sexes and sexual identities.