Permanent Mission of India

Geneva

Human Rights Council – 29th Session

(June 15-July 03, 2015)

Agenda Item 3: Annual full-day discussion on Human Rights of Women

(19 June 2015)

STATEMENT BY INDIA

Thank you Mr. President,

1. India welcomes the convening of Annual full-day meeting on this very important issue and we thank the Panel for their enriching constructive contribution in highlighting the key issues, critical areas of concern on human rights of women, women empowerment.  We particularly welcome these discussions as the year 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action.  We fully share with the Panel’s concerns that despite several positive initiatives, no country has achieved gender equality across all areas of public and private life and there exists significant inequalities between men and women.

Mr. President

2.India is a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious country.  Women constitute half the population and they have a pivotal role in the economic, social and political progress of the country.  Within the framework of the democratic polity, our laws, development policies, plans and programmes have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres.  The advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women has been central to India’s political and socio-economic development agenda since our independence.  This principle found expression in our ability to bring equal voting rights for both men and women way back in 1950.  The principle of gender equality is firmly enshrined in our Constitution.  The Constitution mandates that the State adopt special measures for women and children.

3.Over the last few years, significant steps are being taken by the Government through several enactments, policies and programmes with a view to not only secure equal rights for women but also work towards elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in the country.  Government of India’s key developmental goal for women is gender equality and empowerment.  Towards realisation of this objective, India paid special emphasis on specific strategies that include:- (a) economic empowerment; (b) social and physical infrastructure; (c) enabling legislations; (d) women’s participation in governance; (e) inclusion of all vulnerable and marginalized women; (f) gender sensitive policies and programmes.These strategies bring out the crucial challenges posted by traditional determinants of women’s status and empowerment.

4.India firmly believe that women need to be empowered both politically and economically to fully realise their potential in contributing to our national pursuit of inclusive development.  India proffered 33% reservation for women in rural and urban local governance bodies several years back to politically empower women in decision making.  This was further enhanced by the Parliament by raising the percentage of women representation to 50%.  Hence more than a million elected women are represented in local bodies constituting one of the biggest mobilization of women in the world.

5.Gender being a cross cutting theme in all development plans, we have included targeted measures for gender equality and women’s participation in decision making.  The inclusion and mainstreaming of women received special attention under education, health and skill development programmes.  The landmark achievement in this direction is establishment of an exclusive bank for women called BhartiyaMahila Bank.  It is a step with vision of economic empowerment for women.  To end discrimination against girl child, government adopted several schemes including the recently launched twin programmes of ‘Betibachao’ (save the girl child), ‘Betipadhao’ (educate the girl child) and ‘SukanyaSamridhi’ account.

6.There is a Joint Parliamentary Committee on empowerment of women that ensures that legislations passed by the Parliament are gender sensitive.

Mr. President

7.India’s efforts are directed not only at adopting appropriate legislative and policy framework for advancement of women but also at raising social awareness of the issue of gender equality and women empowerment to fight deep-rooted social prejudices and stereotypes.

Mr. President

8.India firmly believes that ensuring gender equality and women’s participation in decision making is essential to the pursuit of building inclusive societies.  It is also imperative for building strong and resilient economies.  We share with the panel’s view that gender equality, the empowerment of women and the human rights of women and girls as a ‘stand-alone goal’ should be integrated through targets and indicators into all goals of development framework.  Could the panel elaborate on how the discrimination against women should be considered in the post-2015 development agenda?

9.However, we are fully cognizant of the enormous challenges involved in realising the vision we have for our women i.e. ‘empower women living with dignity and contributing with equal partners in development in environment free from violence and discrimination’ and we are committed to address this issue holistically.

Thank you Mr. President.

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