Despite children forming
one-third of India's
population and continued
independent reports on
their neglected state,
programs that hope to
prevent and protect their
rights received a paltry
allocation of Rs. 90 crore
(USD 20 million).<More>
UN Lauds Role of Women in
Governance
(January 29, 2007)
A UN report noted the
increasing participation of
women in politics and
governance in India and lauded
government policies for
reserving up to a third of
seats for women in local-level
administration to promote
gender equality and
empowerment.<More>
Gender Imbalance in
China
(January 16, 2007)
Thanks to its one-child
policy introduced in
1970s, the Chinese
Government acknowledged
that it in less than 30
million more men of
marriageable men than
women resulting from a
hard choice parents had
to make to prefer male
children.<More>
NCW Rejects Adultery Proposal
(December 26, 2006)
The National Commission on Women (NCW) citing social disempowered position
of women, has reportedly recommended that a woman, even if she is involved
in an illicit relationship, cannot be punished for adultery and be treated
as the victim under law. It has asked the government not to amend Section
497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).<More>
SC Criticizes Domestic
Violence Bill
(December 25, 2006)
The Supreme Court severely
criticized the Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence
Act for “clumsy” drafting of
definition of terminology that
could easily be exploited by
some to appropriate property
of a husband and his family.<More>
Tighter Child Marriage Laws
(December 20, 2006)
Minister for Women and Children said the new Prohibition of Child Marriage
Bill 2006 has tighter regulations that would heap jail terms and fines on
priests, police, and local leaders if they willfully permit child marriages.<More>
India Lost 10 Million Girls
(December 15, 2006)
A senior Indian official acknowledged a “national crisis” of parents in
richer states choosing boys over girls using technology to identify and
abort female fetuses resulting in the loss of 10 million girls in the last
20 years.<More>
Pakistan Changes Hudood Ordinances
(November 17, 2006)
After years of global and national criticism over laws governing rape,
Pakistan ’s National Assembly adopted the Women’s Protection Bill 2006 even
as religious fundamentalists allege that the change will make the Islamic
nation a “free sex zone.”<More>
Mortality Numbers Lower
(November 02, 2006)
The Federal Government claimed
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)
declined to 301 per one
hundred thousand and said that
six states continued to be
worrisome but announced
various incentives to
encourage women to go for
institutional delivery.<More>
Justice Vs Judiciary Vs Legislation
(October 18, 2006)
Conviction of rapists, murderers, and terrorists 10 years late and
politically-motivated illegal cover-up commission, quota plans, and clemency
for some facing death row raise numerous questions and concerns on the
Indian democracy.<More>
UN Wants to Stop Violence against Women
(October 12, 2006)
A study sponsored by the UN Secretary General concluded that it has found
“compelling evidence that violence against women (VAW) is severe and
pervasive throughout the world” but there is no “knowledge base to inform
police and strategy development.”<More>
Afghan Widows Prefer
Suicide
(August 22, 2006)
A recent survey by the
United Nations
Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM) found
that 50,000 Afghan
windows in Kabul prefer
suicide to overcome the
hardships they continue
to face<More>
Women Judges to Try
Rape
(August 09, 2006)
A new legislation has
been cleared by the
Federal Cabinet that
provides for rape
victims to be tried by
women judges, witnesses
provided a protection
program, and victims’
right to appeal against
acquittal of the
accused, and acceptance
of video as evidence.<More>
SC Says Women Cannot be charged with Rape
(July 25, 2006)
Hearing the case of a woman whose crises of help was deliberately spurned by
the wife of a man raping her, the Supreme Court (SC) surprisingly concluded
that the wife and any woman cannot be accused or charged for rape or gang
rape.<More>
Rape Victim's Testimony Enough for Conviction
(May 17, 2006)
In a landmark judgment that could have a large impact
on male behavior in India, the Supreme Court said that
just the testimony of a rape victim without supporting
documents or evidence is enough to gain conviction.<More>
Court allows Lesbian Cohabitation
(April 01, 2006)
In the first ruling of its kind, a municipal court in
Mumbai allowed the cohabitation of lesbian couples as
it did not violate outdated Indian laws that prohibit
“intercourse against the order of nature.”<More>
SC Norms for Divorce
(March 22, 2006)
Overturning a Delhi Court verdict, the Supreme Court
(SC) concluded that under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955,
non-consummation of marriage and mental cruelty are
grounds for divorce. <More >
Delhi Police Reopens Jessica Case
(March 14, 2006)
Intense public protest veiled chiding of prosecution
lapses and judgment by Supreme Court Chief Justice Y.K.
Sabharwal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has
spurred the Delhi police to represent the “Jessica
Lall” case to the Delhi High Court.<More>
Delhi Police Admits Irregularities in Jessica
Investigation (March 07, 2006)
Responding to public outrage across the nation, the
Delhi Police announced that it will start an inquiry
into determining who, what, and how "mistakes in the
probe" in the murder of Jessica Lall.<More>
SC Makes Strong Statements against Rape
(March 01, 2006)
The Supreme Court made strong statements today against
rape but surprisingly commuted a life sentence handed
by lower courts to a rapist of a 8 year old to 10
years of rigorous imprisonment.<More>
Delhi Police to Reopen Jessica Case
(March 01, 2006)
Delhi Police Commissioner Krishna Kant Paul said that
his organization would challenge the verdict in the
“Jessica Lal case.”<More>
SC Declines Stay on Jessica Judge Promotion
(February 28, 2006)
The controversial judgment that involved the acquittal
of Manu Sharma and 8 others in the public murder of
Jessica Lal several years ago turned into a national
campaign to reopen the case.<More>
Gujarat Villages Vow Dowry Fight
(January 30, 2006)
Two villages in Gujarat have vowed not to accept dowry
for their sons and to give dowry for their daughter.<More>
SC Cracks Whip on Sexual Harassment
(January 20, 2006)
The Supreme Court has asked all Indian states and
Union Territories to abide by its 1997 ruling on
sexual harassment at the workplace. <More>
NCW Wants Marriage Registration (January 19, 2006)
The Supreme Court in consultation with the National
Commission for Women (NCW) will be requiring,
irrespective of religious disposition, the mandatory
registration of marriages. <More>
NCW Guidelines for Call Centers (January 19, 2006)
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued
guidelines for call centers around the country
regarding the safety of women coming and going to
their place of work.<More>
|
