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Umh!, Whats this?

Gender Justice / January 2001                                                                                                                   <<< Go to index page

Women can complain directly to UN now 
Twenty years after the UN convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women came into force, women can for the first time complain directly to the UN about discrimination, sexual exploitation or other violations of the 1981 treaty. Last year, the UN Commission on the Status of Women initiated an optional protocol to the treaty that would make it possible for women to complain about rights violations directly to the UN, individually or collectively. A UN spokesman announced on December 22 that the protocol comes into force from that day as 13 countries (against the 10 minimum required) have already ratified it. They are Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Mali, Namibia, New Zealand, Senegal, Slovakia and Thailand. Besides, 62 other countries have signed the protocol.

Women’s bill blocked, new quota mooted 
Despite the fact that the Congress, the BJP and the Left supported the passage of the four–year-old Women’s Representation Bill, which proposed reservation of 33 per cent of the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats for women, the bill could not be taken up for discussion and voting in the winter session of the Lok Sabha. The consensus emerging now is that amending electoral laws making it mandatory on all parties to provide a fixed percentage of tickets to women was the only way to ensure greater representation to women in the political process. The aggressive opponents of the proposed bill, such as the Samajwadi Party, RJD, BSP, JD(U) and Samata Party have all said they will support reservation through the proposed changes in electoral laws. However, there remains the disagreement on the percentage of tickets to be given to women. While the opponents of the Bill until now are talking about 10 per cent, Union home minister, LK Advani, has said that the pro–reservation parties may have to scale down the figure from 33 to 25 per cent in the interests of a consensus.  

UP most unsafe state for women
BJP–ruled Uttar Pradesh has the dubious distinction of recording the highest number of dowry deaths in the country. One out of every fourth case of custodial rape is also reported from UP. The state has reported 15 per cent more incidents of abductions compared to the rest of the country; the maximum number of rape victims in the 10–16 age group are also from UP. Recent trends also suggest that incidents of marital discord and dowry harassment are greater in urban centres from the more prosperous western UP region. Interestingly, while these statistics — based on data furnished by the national crime records bureau — of growing crimes against women in UP were being discussed at a seminar on ‘Violence against women and children and the role of police’ in Lucknow, the state’s minister for women’s welfare, Prabha Devi, seemed less concerned about women victims than in–laws being ‘falsely implicated’ in dowry related complaints. “Women are becoming increasingly intolerant which is leading to a rise in the number of suicide deaths. Not all suicide deaths are dowry related and it is only in 10 per cent cases that dowry is the cause of death”, she said, to the dismay of women activists and even police officers present.
  
Year of Women’s Empowerment 
With the Vajpayee–led government having decided to observe year 2001 as Women’s Empowerment Year, it looks likely that the cold–storaged Women’s Empowerment Policy which was drafted in 1996 might at last get a boost. The special features of the policy that seeks to empower women socially and economically aims to address issues related to health, education, domestic violence and employment. 
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women, as part of its action plan for the New Year, has decided to focus on checking violence against women within the family, the workplace and society at large. The NCW has appealed to all sections of society to extend their support in this campaign. “No law or a single organisation can by itself save society from this scourge,” said the NCW’s appeal.

Sati bid foiled in UP
Timely action by the police prevented a widow from committing sati in Kidhauli village in Banda district on December 26. The widow, Radha Bai was arrested and sent to jail. The police became suspicious of Radha Bai’s intent when they saw her accompanying the husband’s body to the cremation ground in bridal dress. Radha Bai told media persons that Sati Maiyya (Goddess Sati) had come to her in her dreams and ordered her to commit sati. According to official statistics available with the national crime records bureau, five cases were registered under prevention of sati act in 1999 and none in 1998.

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