Importance of Women’s Rights.

Gender equality is at the very heart of United Nations values. Equality between men and women has been among the most fundamental guarantees of human rights and a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter adopted by world leaders in 1945 is “equal rights of men and women“, and protecting and promoting women’s human rights is the responsibility of all States. Yet millions of women around the world continue to experience discrimination: Economic and social discrimination results in fewer and poorer life choices for women, rendering them vulnerable to trafficking, Gender-based violence affects at least 30% of women globally, Women are denied their sexual and reproductive health rights, Women human rights defenders are ostracized by their communities and seen as a threat to religion, honor or culture, Women’s crucial role in peace and security is often overlooked, as are the particular risks they face in conflict situations. Despite great strides made by the international women’s rights movement over many years, women and girls around the world are still married as children or trafficked into forced labor and sex slavery. They are refused access to education and political participation, and some are trapped in conflicts where rape is perpetrated as a weapon of war. Around the world, deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth are needlessly high, and women are prevented from making deeply personal choices in their private lives. Women in ancient India enjoyed equal status and rights with men in all fields of life; they were educated; they married at a mature age and were probably free to choose their husbands. During the medieval period, the Indian woman’s position in the society deteriorated. During the British rule many reformers fought for the social and economic upliftment of the women. Traditions such as Sati, Jauhar and Devadasis were banned. Today, whether it is health, education, mortality rate or any other development parameter, women of India are on very weak footing. Despite efforts to raise the social status of women for more than a century, India still ranks low on gender equity. To stop violence and discrimination against women, Every state is working over the issue and making enactments to procure the rights of women and to help them achieving the equal status. That’s why it’s important to have Women’s Rights in the society. For example in India there are certain laws for women such as : Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act: A comprehensive legislation is essential to protect Indian women from different types of domestic violence. It ensures protection for women who are in a relationship and are subjected to constant physical, mental, sexual, verbal and emotional violence. Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act: It helps in protecting women from trafficking for the purpose of prostitution as an organised means of living. Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act: It prevents improper representation of women via any advertisement or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner. Dowry Prohibition Act: It prohibits the giving or taking of dowry at or before or any time after the marriage from women. Maternity Benefit Act: This ensures that women working in establishments for decided time (both before and after childbirth) are entitled to maternity and other benefits. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act: This allows the termination of certain cases of pregnancies by registered doctors on humanitarian and medical grounds. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act: This will prevent of sex selection before or after a woman conceives. This will reduce unwanted and illegal abortions in the country. Equal Remuneration Act: This ensures payment of equal remuneration to both men and women workers for the same work or work of a similar nature. In the context of recruitment and service conditions, there will be no discrimination on the basis of gender. Family Courts Act: It provides for the establishment of Family Courts for speedy settlement of family disputes. Legal Services Authorities Act: This provides for free legal services to Indian women. Hindu Marriage Act: This has been instrumental in introducing monogamy and allowed divorce on certain specified grounds. This law has helped in bringing Indian man and woman on the same platform in terms of marriage and divorce. Hindu Succession Act: This recognizes the right of women to inherit parental property equally with men. Minimum Wages Act: This does not allow discrimination between male and female workers or different minimum wages for them. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act: This will make provisions that there is no sexual harassment against women at workplaces both in public and private sector.