Women News Analysis @ whatisindia.com

Women

Child Welfare Continues to be Neglected (March 12, 2007)
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>

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