Statement by India during Annual full-day Discussion on the Human Rights of Women at the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council (19 June - 14 July 2023) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, Friday 30 June 2023
Madam Vice-President,
We welcome the discussion and thank the panellists for their insightful remarks.
We recognise the importance of women’s leadership and their active participation for equitable and sustainable development.
The Government of India is committed to not only women empowerment but to women-led development envisaging their full participation in economic, social and political decision-making.
Madam Vice-President,
From financial inclusion to social security, quality healthcare to housing, education to entrepreneurship, the Government of India is addressing the issues faced by women on a life-cycle continuum basis to make them equal partners in nation-building by enabling them to realize their human rights and develop to their full potential.
In our view, women are better equipped to take leadership roles when provided equal opportunity for decision-making, access to resources, and the ability to influence social change. To this end, we are working towards creating an ecosystem that nurtures their entrepreneurship ensuring greater access to mentoring, capacity-building, and financing.
India has a strong track record of supporting women leaders in non-conventional sectors, such as the armed forces. 43% of STEM graduates in India are women – which is one of the best in the world. Various steps have been taken to further improve women’s participation in the labour force and quality of their employment. A number of protective provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for ensuring equal opportunity and congenial work environment for women workers, including for enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, mandatory crèche facility in the establishments having 50 or more employees, and social security for all categories of organized and unorganized workers, among others. The Government has taken various initiatives to extend the benefits of social security schemes to the workers of unorganised sector, such as those related to life and disability cover, maternity and health benefits, and old age protection.
I thank you.
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