Efforts to Advance Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment informed by Indian NGOs to UNHRC

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 26 September 2023

The 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council was held where Indian Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) took part to inform about the nation's efforts to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women in the world.

Parmita Sharma, a social activist and the founder of the Akshar Foundation, an Indian women-led NGO, put forward her views during the UN's annual discussion on the "Integration of a Gender Perspective" that she believes the objectives of ending poverty and promoting gender equality go hand in hand. She further said that a stronger emphasis on girls' education is necessary to achieve the goal of equal integration of women's perspectives in the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies, as well as in government more generally.

The eradication of poverty to increase literacy and employability among underprivileged girls will contribute to gender discrimination. Along with this, providing vocational training in tailoring, electronics, nursing, and teaching with apprenticeship will ensure a fruitful livelihood for girls.

Self-defense is also a crucial factor in empowering females. The National Cadet Corps primarily trains females for careers in law enforcement. These initiatives have resulted in girls staying in schools longer lowering the number of child brides in the underprivileged regions and the recently passed law in India that reserves one-third of the seats in the Parliament for Women is one of the great initiatives taken to empower women.

In addition to scholarships and travel assistance, the council and other international bodies need to lead more such initiatives to increase women's participation, so that they can realize their strengths and aspire to be more and participate on a global stage.

The Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS) also put together a separate event with the theme “Ensuring Gender Equitable Practices at Every Place through SAMATVA” which shows the good approaches to development and achieving SDGs.

Hansraj Singh, the communication manager for Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan stated that the new campaign, Samantha will provide equitable practices which means that every female will have equal opportunities at every firm, every government house, or at every place of employment in order to ensure that they could work at every level in fair positions.

The Samadhwa logo stands for equitable practices and providing women priority.

According to Shweta Tyagi, Chief Functionary of India Water Foundation, Women have been at the forefront of all developments in India over the past ten years. Various initiatives like Jal Jeevan Misson and Swachh Bharat Mission have helped women in India in every possible way whereas all the women-led initiatives like the Ujjwala Yojana or other programs are developing the nation.