Equal rights and opportunities to girls and boys in the society is what we know as gender equality. This is being practised since ages and such inequalities have been seen in our day to day life in our own homes, in communities in which we live. Usually people assume the unequal responsibility for example, household works are made only for the women and even if she is working, she is responsible for all the household works and if she fails to maintain both works simultaneously, she fails as an idol woman in the society. This example is of modern India where women are allowed to work but in this modern India there are vital places, where people do not even allow women to have basic education or to even step out of their houses. Such practices are also common in education system which we follow. girl’s education is highly neglected as a result nearly 1 in 4 girls between the ages of 15 to 19 are neither employed nor educated as when compared to 1 in 10 boys. Gender inequality in its most subtle form, turned violent when, some 1 in 20 girls between the age of 15-19 experienced forced sex. Adolescent girls face the highest risk of gender-based violence. Hundreds and millions of girls worldwide are still subjected to the child marriage and also female genital mutilation, even after both of these are internationally recognized as the human rights violation acts. And violence can also occur at birth, like there are many places where female infanticide is persistent. Government and law have taken major steps to stop such practices in India and one of them was this act on equality which enforced a sense of equality in the country which is known as the Equality Act. The objective of the given act is to clearly prevent gender-based discrimination and also to promote a sense of equality among both men and women and thereby, improving the status of the women particularly in their home and their working life. Another objective of the given act is to prevent discrimination which is based on the identity or gender identity of the person. The equality act tries to prohibit the discrimination which is based on the gender roles and the expression of the gender. Both the direct and the indirect gender discrimination is prohibited, and as sexual and gender biases harassment under the law. Such prohibition is generally applicable all over the India it means it applies to all societal activities and areas of life. This act has specific provisions on the discrimination on the working life educational institutions and interest groups. It includes the quota provisions, which applies not only to the state-administration committees but also to the advisory board. India’s progress towards gender equality is measured by its position in the rankings such as in gender development index, and as such it has been disappointing. In past decades, while the Indian GDP has seen a growth there has been a great decline in the female labour force participation that was around from34% to 27%. The wage gap has been 50%. And not only this crime against women has also shown an upward trend in the society. Despite all the hurdles and denial of the equal rights, girls never stopped believing in themselves. But when the signing of the Beijing declaration took place in 1995 the agenda for gender equality, then was when the world has seen uneven progress. After this, more and more girls are attending the school and fewer of the girls are getting married at an early age. After this still discrimination and limiting the stereotypes remain life, many new changes like technological and humanitarian changes are confronting girls with new challenges, while the old ones like violence, institutionalized biases, poor life opportunities are still persistent. This is the reason why girls from all over the world are raising their voices against the inequalities and these girl led movements are degrading child marriages and demanding action on climate change and a trial in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths that is STEM and are asserting their power as global change makers. There are many Institutions which are working for betterment or promotion of gender equality in India some of them are as follows: 1) AKSHARA: The aim is to form a gender just society by empowering young girls, educating the society and encouraging the government and the state to create a safe city for the women. It is an non profit organisation which works towards the enhancing of social consciousness on gender inequality it has recognized that giving women the power to stand up is essential to ensure a gender equal atmosphere in the society. 2) GENDER AT WORK: This organisation has a global presence in more than 5 countries and it has been building equality and improving gender equality at work and adding respect to the world that values and respects the women. The organization supports different organizations and tries to promote social justice and gender equality in the world 3) COMMIT TO CHANGE: C2C tries to transform the lives of the girls who are orphan through power of education. They strongly believe that education can uncover different options for a brighter future. Through the different educational and life skills programming this organisation tries to provide girls the tools to reclaim different worth and uplift their community. 4) CORO: It works towards a society which is based on the equality and the justice for both women and men in the society and also empowers leaders to steer a collective action for social change. It has been able to mobilise hundreds of people to join this moment for better future of the society. It has 6 main objectives which are empower women, aid people, defend human rights, holding the system liable, empower youth and improve people’s quality of life.

5) AYZH: the main focus of AYZH is to provide women with all the healthcare and sanitary products to protect themselves against any infectious and harmful diseases and also allowing them to continue to be as productive as possible in their lives. It was established to prevent many deaths which were avoidable and to promote education of women on how to remain safe and sound. They also employ women to create their products like sanitary napkins, birth kits etc. Therefore, we as a society can make this world a better place to live not for only women but for everyone. As, we were born same just a mere difference of sex cannot decide who is liable to live a better life. And there are many institutions who are trying to promote equality we should try to contribute to such institutions to our fullest.

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.

About Binge Drinking:

               Alcohol is part of our society. People consume it to celebrate, socialize, relax, and enhance the enjoyment of meals. Binge Drinking is the practice of consuming large quantities of alcohol in a single session, usually defined as five or more drinks at one time for a man, or four or more drinks at one time for a woman. About 90% of the alcohol is consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks. Nearly 90% of adults in the United States report that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime.

When you think of binge drinking, young adults, particularly college students, may spring to mind. But older people, in particular adults 65 or older, binge drink as well. One in six adults in the U.S. binge drink at least four times a month. Men are also twice as likely to engage in the behavior. A person who drinks excessively in their youth is also at high risk of continuing the behaviour into adulthood and developing an alcohol use disorder.

Why do People Binge Drink ?

Sometimes it’s because of social pressure, or because they want to feel less anxious or awkward in a social setting. Young people may feel pressured to binge drinking at seasonal events, such as prom or a sporting event. But people also binge drink alone, because they want to hide the behavior from loved ones.

 Why do Teens Binge Drink ?

Liquor stores, bars, and alcoholic beverage companies make drinking seem attractive and fun. It’s easy for a high school student to get caught up in a social scene with lots of peer pressure. Inevitably, one of the biggest areas of peer pressure is drinking. Other reasons : 1. They’re curious – they want to know what it’s like to drink alcohol. 2. They believe that it will make them feel good, not realizing it could just as easily make them sick and hung-over. 3. They make look at alcohol as a way to reduce stress, even though it can end up creating more stress. 4. They want to feel older.

  Binge Drinking in India :

Alcohol is banned in some parts of India such as Manipur and Gujarat, but it is legally consumed in the majority of states. There are believed to be 62.5 million people in India who at least occasionally drink alcohol. Unlike many western countries the consumption of alcohol in India is witnessing a dramatic rise- for instance, between 1970 and 1995 there was a 106.7% increase in the per captia (this means per individual in the population) consumption. International brewers and distillers of alcoholic beverages are keen to become popular in India, because it is potentially offers the third largest market for their product globally. India has also become one of the largest producers of alcohol-it produces 65% of alcoholic beverages in South-East Asia. Most urban areas have witnessed an explosion in the number of bars and nightclubs that have opened in recent years.An average Indian drinks 5.7 litres of alcohol a year and states earn over Rs.2 trillion.

     It is not necessary for people to drink alcohol everyday in order for them to develop problems. In fact the most dangerous pattern of drinking is binge drinking where the individual consumes an excessive amount in a short period of time. The individual might only drink once or twice a week but they can still suffer from negative consequences such as:

• If the person’s blood alcohol concentration rises too fast it can lead to alcohol poisoning. This state of inebriation can be potentially fatal. • Binge drinkers can cause damage to almost every organ in their body- it can also lead to fatty liver which is the first stage in alcoholic liver disease. • This pattern of drinking puts the individual at risk of developing alcoholism. Once the individual reaches this stage it can mean that alcohol completely takes over their life. • It can lead to blackouts- this is where people have no memory of their actions for a period of time. • Some people react badly to intoxication. They can become aggressive and do things they later regret. • Hangovers can mean that the individual is unable to fulfill their responsibilities the next day after binge drinking. • It can trigger symptoms of depression.

Drinking Culture In India :

India is a vast sub-continent and the drinking habits vary greatly between the different states. It is therefore impossible to describe a single drinking culture for the whole of India. Those who live in the south western state of Kerala are the heaviest drinkers. People who live in this state drink an average of 8 litres per capita, and this is four times the amount of the rest of India. Other areas of the continent where people tend to drink relatively heavily include Haryana and Punjab. In some parts of India there is hardly any drinking culture to speak of- in some of these places alcohol is banned completely. In recent years there has been a noticeable rise in the number of urban males who claim to use alcohol as a means to relax. It still tends to be the poor and those who live in rural areas that are the highest consumers of alcohol. It is believed that as little as little as 5% of alcohol consumers are female- although this figure is higher in some states.

Drinking Statistics for India :

Indians prefer hard liquors and distilled spirits over beers- 80% of consumption involves these stronger beverages. It is suggested that 20% of the population has at least tried alcohol. In the past two decades the number of people who have consumed alcohol has moved from 1 in 300 to 1 in 20. The Lancet reported that more than half of those who consume alcohol in India would fall into the category of hazardous drinking. It has been suggested that there are a worryingly 14 million people in India who would be described as dependent on alcohol and in need of help. Another concern is the increasing tendency to engage in binge drinking where people deliberately become intoxicated.

Alcohol Abuse in India :

India once had a reputation as having a culture that promoted abstinence towards drugs like alcohol. Things have changed and there is now serious problems arising due to alcohol abuse- some would say that there were always problems associated with alcohol use in India but in the past it was less reported. The implications for this rise in alcohol related problems include: • An increasing number of people are becoming • Domestic and sexual abuse is often associated with alcohol abuse. • This type of behavior can be damaging to communities. • Those individuals who engage in this type of behavior can begin to fail in their ability to meet family, social, and work commitments. • Families can suffer financially as a result of this type of substance abuse. • Business and the economy suffer because of lost productivity with people coming to work still suffering from the effects of alcohol. • Drink driving is responsible for many road deaths.

Underage Drinking in India :

Underage drinking is becoming a problem in India. Different states will have different age limits for alcohol consumption- the age limit in those states where it is legal to drink range from 18 to 27 years old. It is common for people to begin drinking before the legal age limit. The problems of underage drinking include: • For those young people who are still in adolescence, it can interfere with their normal development if they consume alcohol. This type of behavior can particularly interfere with crucial mental development that occurs at this age. • Underage drinking is closely related to teen suicide. • It encourages sexual promiscuity. • Those people who drink at an early age are far more likely to develop alcoholism. • It can mean that these young people perform badly at school or college. This means that their opportunities in the future will be limited. • Even those who are young can develop alcoholism and all the physical and mental problems that come with this. • There are many teenagers who use alcohol as a stepping stone to harder drugs.

Impact of Alcoholism on Society :

The real-world impact of alcohol abuse reaches far beyond the financial costs. When a loved one has a problem with alcohol, it can affect their marriage and their extended family. There’s also the larger impact on the community, schools, the workplace, the health care system and on society as a whole.

How Alcoholism Affects Society :

Approximately 14 million people in the United States meet the criteria for severe alcohol use disorders and alcohol is involved in more than 88,000 deaths per year. But it’s not necessarily people who have alcohol addiction having the biggest impact on these fingers. It’s estimated that more than 75 percent of the cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S. is due to binge drinking, and most binge drinkers are not alcohol- dependent.

Financial Costs of Alcoholism :

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cost of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. alone exceeds $200 billion annually. More than 70% of that is attributed to binge drinking, defined as four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men.The CDC estimates that 40% of the cost of excessive alcohol consumption is paid by federal, state, and local governments. The biggest cost is loss of workplace productivity. Healthcare costs, crime and law enforcement, as well as motor vehicle crashes are also among the top alcohol- related expenses.The CDC estimates that these figures are all underestimated because alcohol’s involvement in sickness, injury, and death is not always available or reported. These figures also do not include some medical and mental health conditions that are the result of alcohol abuse. Also not included in these figures are the work days that family members miss due to the alcohol problems of a loved one.

Healthcare Costs of Alcohol Abuse : Alcohol consumption is a risk factor in numerous chronic diseases and conditions, and alcohol plays a significant role in certain cancers, psychiatric conditions, and numerous cardiovascular and digestive diseases. Additionally, alcohol consumption can increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. An estimated $28 billion is spent each year on alcohol- related health care.

Alcohol- Related Aggression and Violence :

Along with unintentional injury, alcohol plays a significant role in intentional injuries as a result of aggression and violence, Alcohol has been linked to physical violence by a variety of research studies. On top of the healthcare cost of alcohol-related intentional violence in the United States, the estimated annual cost to the criminal justice system is another estimated $25billion.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Family :

The social impact of alcohol abuse is a separate issue from the financial costs involved, and that impact begins in the home, extends into the community, and often affects society as whole, much like the financial impact does. Research on the effects of alcohol abuse on families shows that alcohol abuse and addiction plays a role in intimate partner violence, causes families financial problems, impairs decision-making skills, and plays a role in child neglect and abuse. As with the financial costs of alcohol abuse, studies have found occasional binge drinking can affect families also. One study revealed that “spousal violence is more likely not only when a partner is an infrequent drinker who occasionally drinks heavily.”

Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Children :

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is one of the most common direct consequences of parental alcohol use in the United States, caused by alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy. Children with FAS display a variety of symptoms, many of which are life-long and permanent. Children who grow up in a home with a loved one dealing with alcohol addiction may be affected as well; they are at significant to develop alcohol use disorders themselves. Growing up in a home where at least one parent has a severe alcohol use disorder can increase a child’s chances of developing psychological and emotional problems.

Short And Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

Binge Drinking is a dangerous habit that can cause both short-term and long-term physical and emotional effects on a person. The more a person participates in binge drinking , the more severe these effects will be. Bing Drinking is an epidemic that has become increasingly popular in the United States , especially on college campuses. Unfortunately, studies have shown that even one bout of binge drinking can have serious effects on a person’s health. Binge drinking on a regular basis can be dangerous and result in a number of long-term and short-term effects. Struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction- which can often result in regular binge drinking – is difficult to cope with and overcome on one’s own. Luckily, Addiction Campuses offers a number of programs to help individuals get and stay sober and reclaim their lives and health.

The Statistics on Binge Drinking :

Binge drinking is an incredibly common part of the culture in the United States. As such, many people participate in or have participated in binge drinking at some point in their lives . In fact, an estimated 75% of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. is done so in the form of binge drinking.

Additional statistics on the prevalence of binge drinking in the U.S. include :

• An estimated 90% of alcohol consumed by people 21 and younger is in the form of binge drinking. • An estimated one in 10 American adults ages 55 to 64 have participated in binge drinking in the last month. • In 2014, nearly 25% of all adults ages 18 and older participated in binge drinking in the last month. • In 2015, one in six adults admitted to binge drinking with an average of one episode of binge drinking a week. • Binge drinking is most common among individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 34. • Individuals younger than 21 who report drinking admit that most alcohol they consume is done in the form of binge drinking. • Binge drinking is twice as common in men as in women, with four out of five binge drinks consumed being drunk by men. These statistics are incredibly alarming, as binge drinking is one of the most deadly patterns of drinking in the nation. And, unfortunately, the next-day hangover is the least of the worries associated with binge drinking.

Short-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

Binge Drinking can have a number of dangerous and even deadly short-terms effects. This is true for both individuals who regularly participate in binge drinking and for those who binge drink only once or twice. In fact, an estimated half of all alcohol- related deaths are due to “acute” intoxication, or intoxication that happens in a short period of time.

A few of the many short-term effects of binge drinking include: • acute inflammation of the liver, stomach, and pancreas • high blood pressure • irregular heartbeat • sudden death due to heart failure • dehydration • low levels of electrolytes like sodium and potassium • inhibition of the gag reflex, which can result in infection and inflammation in the lungs • increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) • dangerously low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) • blackouts • increased risk of injury or death Additionally, binge drinking can result in alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly if not treated properly and immediately. Depression of the gag reflex can also result if someone has passed out and chokes on his or her vomit. What’s more, binge drinking can also have effects that impact a person’s social and professional life as well. For example, a person who binge drinks may miss work or school due to a hangover or illness, which could eventually lead to poor performance and work- or school-related consequences.

Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking :

In addition to short-terms effects, binge drinking can have significant long-term effects as well. The more a person participates in binge drinking, the more likely he or she is to experience long-term damage.

Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking may include :

• suppressed immune system, which can make it difficult to recover from illness or injury • anemia • malnutrition as a result of the body’s inability to absorb vitamins and nutrients • reduced fertility • alcohol dependence and addiction • mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression • increased risk of stroke • osteoporosis as a result of inadequate absorption of calcium • chronic high blood pressure • alcohol-related liver disease • nerve damage • seizures • increased risk of various types of cancer

What’s more, binge drinking can significantly increase a person’s risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol addiction is a chronic condition that can negatively affect every aspect of a person’s life. Alcoholism is characterized by the inability to quit drinking or control drinking despite negative consequences.

Conclusion :

Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespread. From a global perspective, in order to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, policies need to take into account specific situations in different societies. Average volumes consumed and patterns of drinking are two dimensions of alcohol consumption that need to be considered in efforts to reduce the burden of alcohol-related problems. Avoiding the combination of drinking and driving is an example of measures that can reduce the health burden of alcohol. Worldwide, alcohol takes an enormous toll on lives and communities, especially in developing countries and its contribution to the overall burden of disease is expected to increase in the future. Particularly worrying trends are the increases in the average amount of alcohol consumed per person in countries such as China and India and the more harmful and risky drinking patterns among young people. National monitoring systems need to be developed to keep track of alcohol consumption and its consequences, and to raise awareness amongst the public and policy-makers. It is up to both governments and concerned citizens to encourage debate and formulate effective public health policies that minimize the harm caused by alcohol.

Each individual has respect and value. One of the ways in which we perceive the principal worth of each individual is by recognizing and regarding their human rights. Human rights are a set of norms concerned about equity and fairness. They give us an opportunity to have the freedom to make decisions about our lives and to build up our potential as individuals. They are basically about living a kind of life where you are free from fear, harassment or racism. Human rights can extensively be characterized as various fundamental rights that individuals from around the globe have concurred are basic. These incorporate the privilege to live, the privilege to a reasonable preliminary, opportunity from torment and other brutal and barbaric treatment, the right to speak freely of discourse, the opportunity of religion, and the rights to wellbeing, instruction and a sufficient way of life. These human rights are the equivalent for all individuals all over the place – people, youthful and old, rich and poor, paying little mind to our experience, where we live, what we think or what we accept. This is the thing that makes human rights ‘Universal’. People have rights to connect that they practice their privileges with others through a share set to responsibilities. For instance, when somebody uses their human rights to the right to speak freely or freedom of speech, they ought to do as such without meddling with another person’s right to privacy. Governments have a specific duty to ensure that individuals can make the most of their privileges. They are required to build up and keep up laws and administrations that empower individuals to appreciate an actual existence in which their privileges are regarded and ensured. For instance, the right to education says that everybody is qualified for a decent education. This implies governments have a commitment to give great quality facilities and administrations to their citizens. Regardless of whether governments really do this, it is commonly acknowledged this is the administration’s obligation and individuals can criticize them that they neglect to regard or secure their essential human rights. Human rights spread for all intents and purposes for each zone of human activity. They incorporate civil and political rights, which allude to an individual’s privileges to partake in the common and political existence of their locale without separation or mistreatment. These incorporate rights and opportunities, for example, right to votes, right to security, the right to have freedom of speech and freedom from torture. They additionally incorporate monetary, social and social rights, which identity with an individual’s privileges to thrive and develop and to participate in public and social exercises. This gathering incorporates rights, for example, the right to health, the right to education and the right to work. As well as belonging to every individual, there are some rights that also belong to groups of people. This is frequently in acknowledgement of the way that these groups have been disadvantaged and marginalized from the beginning of time and thus need more prominent security of their rights. These rights are called collective rights. Thoughts regarding equity and justice were apparent in the considering scholars of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. A significant strand in this reasoning was that there was a ‘natural law’ that remained exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else of rulers. This implied people had certain rights basically on the grounds that they were individuals. Values of tolerance, equality and respect can help reduce friction within society. Putting human rights ideas into practice can help us create the kind of society we want to live in. In recent years, there has been a gigantic development by the way we consider and apply human rights notions. This has had numerous positive outcomes – information about human rights can enable people and offer answers for explicit issues. Human rights are a significant piece of how individuals collaborate with others at all levels in the public eye – in the family, the network, schools, the work environment, in governmental issues and in global relations. It is indispensable consequently that individuals wherever ought to endeavour to comprehend what human rights are. At the point when individuals better comprehend human rights, it is simpler for them to advance equity and the prosperity of society. Also, instruction about human rights is similarly as significant as having laws to secure individuals. Long term progress can extremely possibly be made when individuals know about what human rights are and what principles exist.

The importance of water is prevalent in all sectors of life. Water is essential not only for the fundamental benefits of people but also for the very survival of all living beings. Thus, it can be considered as the center of economic and social development. The presence of water is very much crucial in every step of development as it serves as the fundamental root of everything. It contributes to myriads natural productive processes, including directly productive process such as manufacturing production, food production and as an element in basic economic infrastructure. Water provides effective service for livelihood, human health and contributes much to the economic growth and sustainability of the ecosystem. Shortage of water can become a major obstacle to public health and development. Sanity is completely depended on the availability of water. Places that has less source of water can lead to unhygienic environment which can ultimately lead the place to a contaminated area. This can adversely affect the development of a country since health and hygiene plays an important role in the development of a nation.

Better access to clean and pure water, best sanitation services creates tremendous impact in the growth of economic development. Water is linked to many economic activities and there are many complex channels through which water affects the overall economic growth. Some African countries like Kenya, Zambia installed water kiosk (booths for the sale of tap water) in order to improve the water supply and sanitation for poor rural areas, which provided some sort of income to water kiosk vendors and to public toilet caretakers. There are myriads of multinational companies like food companies, irrigation related corporations, for which water has been the main and unavoidable component. The presence of water ranges from small family farms to big companies. Thus it can be said that water plays an important role the socio economic development of a country.

Water plays an important role in the development of a country. The combination of fresh drinking water and proper sanitation can be taken as a tool against poverty, pollution and diseases.  Improving water availability and proper sanitation services can have sustainable economic benefits. United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) is currently working in more than ninety countries across the world in order to improve water supply and sanitation facilities. It has been noted that improving household water management and sanitation impacts household finance and ultimately the economy at a macro level. For example, having a hygienic toilet and fresh drinking water can reduce health care expenses. Thus every first step can be done from home itself.

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS IN EUROPE

I. Comparative Summary.

This report includes surveys of the laws of 25 European jurisdictions concerning the legality of religious slaughter of animals, updating and expanding the Law Library’s March 2018 report. All European countries that do not allow kosher or halal slaughter of animals are included; some but not all countries that permit such slaughter subject to regulation are also included. In addition, the report summarizes a February 2019 European Court of Justice decision on religious slaughter and organic labelling. The Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter and the European Union (EU) Council Regulation 1099/2009 provide that animals should be stunned before they are slaughtered. Both also provide that Member States may allow derogations from the stunning requirement to allow for ritual slaughter.

Jewish and Islamic methods of slaughter developed over centuries, partly to provide for a method of killing that minimized the animal’s suffering. Legislation requiring stunning prior to slaughter began to be adopted in parts of Europe in the late nineteenth century. In 1933, Adolf Hitler, shortly after becoming chancellor, banned the slaughter of animals in Germany without prior stunning, which led to an anguished rabbinic debate on whether observant Jews could eat meat slaughtered with prior stunning under these circumstances. The rabbis reached a general consensus that prior stunning was unacceptable even under the extreme situation of Nazi Germany. Since then, virtually no rabbinic authorities have found that stunning prior to slaughter is consistent with Jewish doctrine. Under Islamic law, some authorities reject all forms of stunning prior to slaughter, while other authorities accept certain types of prior stunning.

Given the sincerely-held religious beliefs of observant Jews and many Muslims, requiring stunning before slaughter clearly implicates international human rights law on freedom of religion, including the European Convention on Human Rights. Several European countries do not allow derogations from the general requirement of prior stunning. These include Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Slovenia. Switzerland and Lichtenstein recently amended their prior stunning rules to eliminate exceptions for poultry. Finland requires concurrent sedation; legislation is pending that would require prior stunning. At the subnational level, two of the three regions of Belgium have recently enacted laws requiring prior stunning, and their enforcement has not been stayed while challenges are pending in Belgium’s constitutional court. Some countries mandate post-cut stunning, including Austria, Estonia, Greece, and Latvia.

Other European countries permit derogations from the general requirements to allow for religious slaughter. The cases of Cyprus, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Spain illustrate different forms that regulation of ritual slaughter may take, while Poland, where religious slaughter is currently legal, offers an interesting history concerning the legality of religious slaughter. Among countries that were states of the former Soviet Union, petitions to outlaw ritual slaughter of animals have not resulted in legislation in Georgia or Russia. Although Customs Union regulations regarding the production of meat and meat products were jointly adopted by the governments of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia and have been in force since 2014, it appears that the ongoing customary practice of religious slaughter disregards the rules. In 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled that meat from animals slaughtered without stunning cannot bear the EU’s logo for organic products because that logo implies the use of processes that minimize the suffering of animals being slaughtered.

II. Country Surveys

Austria

Austria generally prohibits the killing of animals without stunning. A no-stunning permit for ritual slaughter may be obtained if killing without stunning is necessary according to mandatory religious instructions or prohibitions of a recognized religious denomination. The ritual slaughter must take place in slaughterhouses specially established and authorized by the authorities for this purpose. In addition, the permit will only be granted if

• the ritual slaughter is performed by persons possessing the necessary knowledge and skills; • the ritual slaughter is performed exclusively in the presence of a veterinarian in charge of slaughtering and meat inspection; • equipment is available to ensure that the animals intended for ritual slaughter can be brought into the position required for slaughtering as quickly as possible; • the slaughter is performed in a way that the large blood vessels in the throat area are opened with one single cut; • the animals are effectively stunned immediately after opening of the blood vessels (post-cut stunning); • the stunning becomes effective immediately after the cut is performed; and • the animals intended for ritual slaughter are not brought into the required position before the anesthetist is ready to perform the stunning.

Belarus

Presently, in select constituent components of the Russian Federation, religious offerings of animals are prohibited in public places by the order of local governors and must be conducted at designated slaughterhouses. It appears that the ongoing customary practice of religious slaughter disregards Customs Union rules in force since 2014 concerning production of meat and meat products jointly adopted by the governments of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia that provide that preliminary immobilizing (stunning) of an animal is required for slaughter for food consumption.

Belgium

Religious slaughter is not prohibited at the federal level, but two of Belgium’s three regions have recently adopted legislation to prohibit the practice. The Parliament of Wallonia issued a decree on May 18, 2017, requiring that animals be stunned before slaughter regardless of whether religious rules allow it. This prohibition on religious slaughter took effect on August 31, 2019. The Flemish Parliament adopted a similar measure on June 28, 2017, which took effect on January 1, 2019. Violation of these prohibitions is made punishable by fines of between €52 and €2,000 (approximately US$64 and $2,463). The Brussels-Capital region, however, does not appear to have adopted any similar prohibition yet. Both the Walloon decree and the Flemish decree have been challenged in the Belgian Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to issue a preliminary ruling on whether barring religious slaughter infringes religious freedom under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Belgian court has declined to suspend enforcement of the decrees while the cases are pending, and it is unclear when the Constitutional Court will render its decision.

Cyprus

Cyprus generally requires animals to be stunned before slaughter, but an exception is allowed in the case of the animal subject to religious methods of slaughter. Cypriot regulations require an application by a competent religious authority to the Cyprus Veterinary Services for a special derogation from the standard requirement. The Veterinary Services examines the application to determine if the religious authority applying for the derogation is competent to monitor and apply the ritual practice; if the derogation is granted, slaughter may be carried out in accordance with the religious practice.

Denmark

Denmark is a member of the European Union. It has a population of nearly 5.8 million, of which 6,000 are estimated to be Jews and 30,000 Muslims. Denmark introduced new animal welfare protections in relation to slaughter in 2014. At that time the slaughter of animals without prior sedation had reportedly not been performed in Denmark since 2004.

The slaughter of animals is regulated in Denmark’s Animal Protections Act, which provides that animals must be slaughtered as quickly and as painlessly as possible. In addition, it provides that the Ministry of Environment and Food may issue further ordinances on how slaughter may be performed. In 2014 Denmark issued an ordinance that effectively banned kosher and non-sedated halal slaughter. The ordinance allows for religious slaughter, but requires religious slaughter to be preceded by sedation of the animal. Thus, there is no exception to the rule that animals must be sedated prior to slaughter. The Guidelines to the Ordinance on Slaughter and Killing of Animals prescribes that only the following methods of sedation are acceptable under Danish law: mechanical (bolt pistol, shotgun, breaking the animals neck, or by blow to the head), electrical, or gas.

Only poultry, cattle, sheep, and goats may be slaughtered through “religious slaughter.” These animals must be sedated with a “non-penetrating bolt tool.” If that form of sedation is not effective, the animal must immediately be sedated with the use of a “penetrating bolt” or by the use of “electricity.” The animal must be fixated prior to performing the sedating act (for cattle, this means in a box).In addition, the animal must be at least eight months old, or twenty-four months old for bulls.

Danish law allows for the import of kosher and halal meat that has been slaughtered without prior sedation. In addition, halal slaughter is performed in Denmark by Muslims who provide sedation prior to slaughter. According to Danish Veterinary and Food Administration reports, Danish slaughtered halal meat is exported to the Middle East. Slaughterhouses that wish to perform religious slaughter (in effect, halal slaughter) must notify the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) prior to initiating slaughter.[40] There are no requirements that halal meat must be marked as halal. There are currently no proposals pending in the Danish Parliament to allow for the slaughter of animals without prior sedation, or to allow for religious exemptions to the current rules.

Estonia

Estonia’s Animal Protection Law regulates the slaughter of animals for religious purposes. According to observers, Estonian policies on religious slaughter are the strictest among the European Union Member States. The original procedure, which required post-cut stunning, was introduced in 2001 when the Law was adopted. Under this Law, the religious community was required to inform government authorities about the forthcoming slaughter ten days in advance, and conduct the slaughter in presence of a government animal welfare inspector. A registered religious community was allowed to slaughter animals outside of a slaughterhouse if the community obtained a special slaughtering permit from the government agency in charge of veterinary and food control.

Pursuant to 2012 amendments to the Animal Protection Law to comply with the requirements of European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009, the pre-slaughter notification period has been extended to twenty days, and the government reserves the right to deny a religious community’s request to slaughter an animal if it determines that (1) the number of animals to be slaughtered according to the application is disproportionately high, given the needs of the members of the religious association, and (2) slaughter is not justified by the needs of the requesting religious community. An implementing regulation issued by the Ministry of Agriculture allows religious slaughter without pre-stunning; however, special procedures established by the regulation must be met.

Finland

Finland is a member of the European Union and thus bound by EC Regulation 1109/2012 on the protection of animals during slaughter. It has a population of approximately 5.5 million, of which an estimated 1,500 are Jews and 65,000 are Muslims. The slaughter of animals is regulated in the Finnish Animal Protections Act, which provides that animals must be sedated prior to slaughter. However, the Act allows an exception for religiously slaughtered animals that are sedated simultaneously with the start of bloodletting. This exemption was also in force in the earlier Animal Welfare Regulation. It still requires that sedation (via bolt pistol or electricity) be applied simultaneously with the fatal cut.

In practice halal slaughter is only performed with prior sedation. No kosher slaughter is performed, as kosher slaughter cannot be performed with concurrent sedation. In addition, Finnish law requires that religiously slaughtered animals only be slaughtered in slaughter houses with a veterinarian present.

Violations of the slaughter rules in the Animal Welfare Act are punishable with a fine or no more than two years of imprisonment. The sedation method accepted under Finnish law depends on what animal is to be slaughtered, as provided for in EC Regulation No. 1099/2009. Poultry and sheep may be sedated using electricity, while cattle may only be slaughtered using a penetrating bolt pistol. Finnish law allows for the import of kosher and halal meat that has been slaughtered without prior sedation, even though kosher slaughter is not allowed in Finland. There are no restrictions in Finnish law on the export of halal meat. Finland is currently updating its Animal Welfare Act and proposing to limit the religious slaughter exception to require that all animals be sedated prior to being slaughtered. If passed, the new rules would enter into force in 2020.

France

France generally requires that animals be stunned before being slaughtered, but provides an exception for religious slaughter. This exception is subject to prior government authorization, for which the slaughterhouse must show that it has equipment and procedures in place to meet hygiene requirements, and that it is requesting the exception to meet commercial orders that require it. There are no restrictions on export; meat from animals slaughtered according to religious rites account for approximately a third of total French meat exports.

Georgia

While Georgia’s legislation is silent about the protection of animals with respect to methods of slaughter for religious purposes, public petitions requesting the government to outlaw ritual murder of animals and establish uniform rules for humane killing of animals for agricultural purposes have been introduced for signing in Georgia. No legislative measures have followed.

Germany

German law generally prohibits the killing of warm-blooded animals without stunning. However, as an exception, a no-stunning permit may be granted if the following two requirements are met: (1) the applicant is a member of a group of persons who are united by a common religious conviction that has mandatory rules requiring slaughter without stunning (ritual slaughter) or prohibiting the consumption of animal meat not slaughtered in this way; and (2) slaughter without stunning is necessary to meet the needs of the members of that local religious community within Germany. “Necessary” means that a permit will not be granted if there are other ways that meet the needs of that specific local religious community—for example, electrical head-only stunning (electro-narcosis) instead of slaughter without stunning. However, a general denial of a permit because of the possibility of electro-narcosis is not allowed; religious freedom and animal protection have to be balanced on a case-by-case basis.

The application for a permit must be filed with the competent state authority. In addition, the permit will only be granted if the applicant possesses the necessary level of competence involved in slaughtering animals as evidenced by a certificate of competence.

The export of animals that were killed without stunning is prohibited. The law makes this clear by stating that a no-stunning permit will only be granted to meet the needs of religious communities “within the scope of application of this act [the Animal Welfare Act]” (im Geltungsbereich dieses Gesetzes), meaning within Germany.

Greece

Greece permits some forms of religious slaughter, but a new regulation requires post-cut stunning. A 2017 Joint Ministerial Decision implementing EU Council Regulation 1099/2009 provides that religious slaughter may occur without prior stunning; such slaughter must occur in a slaughterhouse and animals must be properly restrained, as the EU regulation requires. Greece imposes conditions beyond the requirements of Regulation 1099/2009 by requiring stunning immediately after cutting (for animals other than poultry), forbidding restraint of ruminants by inversion or other abnormal position, and requiring a suitably sharpened knife of appropriate size and a readily available spare knife.

Iceland

Iceland is a small country in the northern part of Europe with approximately 350,000 inhabitants, of which one hundred are estimated to be Jews and 1,500 to be Muslims. Reportedly, a Jewish Chabad congregation with its own rabbi is set to open in Iceland in 2018. Religious freedoms are protected in the Icelandic Constitution.

Although Iceland is not a member of the European Union, it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA); thus, the provisions on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 apply to Iceland.

The slaughter of animals in Iceland is regulated by the Act on Animal Welfare, which provides that animals must be sedated prior to slaughter. There are no religious exceptions. Slaughter is further regulated in the Regulation on the Protection of Animals During Slaughter. The sedation method accepted under law depends on what animal is to be slaughtered. Electric rods are only to be used if the primary sedation method is unavailable. Icelandic law allows for the import of kosher and halal meat that has been slaughtered without prior sedation. In addition, halal slaughter is performed in Iceland by Muslims who allow for sedation prior to slaughter. Halal meat produced in Iceland is certified by the Muslim Association of Iceland. There are no export prohibitions on halal meat, but all meat must be slaughtered in conformance with Icelandic law. There are no legal requirements that halal meat be marked as halal. There are no pending proposals (lagafrumvörp) in the Icelandic Parliament (Althingi) to allow for religious slaughter without prior sedation.

Latvia

According to a Latvian legal scholar, until 2009 the slaughter without stunning of animals kept for farming purposes was prohibited. In 2009, Parliament passed amendments to the Animal Protection Law allowing the slaughter of animals kept for farming purposes using stunning after slaughter. Such slaughter must be performed in a slaughterhouse in accordance with the traditional methods for meat production of religious communities and the regulatory enactments regarding welfare requirements for the protection of animals. These amendments were clearly intended to allow Latvian meat producers to access markets demanding halal and kosher food. Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers provide technical requirements on the slaughter of animals using stunning after slaughter.

Liechtenstein

Previously, Liechtenstein generally prohibited the killing of vertebrate animals without stunning. In 2018, it eliminated an exception allowing the ritual slaughter of poultry without stunning. Anyone who intentionally violates the provisions on animal slaughter is liable for a fine of up to CHF20,000 (around US$21,371). If the violation was negligent, the fine will be up to CHF10,000 (around US$10,690).

Lithuania

Lithuania’s Law on Welfare and Protection of Animals states that the ritual slaughter of animals should be performed in slaughterhouses only in accordance with requirements established by law. The Law did not provide for any opportunity to kill an animal in any other manner than stunning until 2014, when because of the economic situation in the region and the necessity of finding new markets for Lithuanian beef, especially in the Arab countries, the Lithuanian Parliament amended the Law on Welfare and Protection of Animals to legalize the ritual slaughter of animals effective January 1, 2015. Only government-licensed companies are allowed to conduct ritual slaughter of animals for religious purposes and such slaughter must be performed in a slaughterhouse.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg has required since at least 1995 that animals be stunned prior to being slaughtered, and previously did not provide any exception for religious slaughter. The 1995 regulation has since been repealed and replaced by one that transposes European Union Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing into Luxembourger law. Under this new regulation, there now is an exception for religious slaughter, subject to authorization by the government upon written request on the part of the religious authority.

Netherlands

Until recently, Dutch law made an exception for killing animals without stunning for ritual slaughter and also allowed the export of such meat. However, in July of 2017, the Dutch government, representatives of slaughterhouses, and Muslim and Jewish faith leaders concluded an addendum to their original agreement, which established rules for ritual slaughter. The addendum states that ritual slaughter is only allowed insofar as it is “necessary to meet the actual needs of the local religious community in the Netherlands,” thereby effectively banning the export of such meat. The stricter rules apply from January 1, 2018, onwards.

Norway

Norway has a population of almost 5.3 million, of which an estimated 1,200 are Jews and an estimated 30,000 are Muslims. Norway is a member of the European Economic Area. It has thus transposed European Union Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on protecting animals at the time of slaughter into its domestic legislation.

Slaughter of animals is regulated in the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act. It provides that animals must be sedated prior to slaughter, specifically noting that sedation is also required for religiously slaughtered animals.

The sedation method accepted under law depends on what animal is to be slaughtered. Poultry and sheep may be sedated using electricity, a non-penetrating bolt, or a penetrating bolt. Cattle may only be slaughtered using a penetrating bolt pistol. There are no additional requirements for religiously slaughtered animals.

Norwegian law allows for the import of kosher and halal meat that has been slaughtered without prior sedation. In addition, halal slaughter is performed in Norway by Muslims who allow for sedation prior to slaughter. Halal meat slaughtered in Norway may be exported, provided the slaughter is performed in accordance with Norwegian law. Halal-marked food must meet the same labelling requirements as other food products, including not being misleading to consumers as to the content and origin of the product. There are no pending proposals in the Norwegian Parliament to allow for religious slaughter without prior sedation.

Poland

The slaughter of animals without stunning has at times been prohibited in Poland, but at present it is permitted. A provision of the Animal Protection Act that allowed for religious exceptions to pre-slaughter stunning, the only accepted method of animal killing, was repealed in 2002. Nonetheless, the Jewish community has been allowed to continue slaughtering animals for religious purposes pursuant to the 1997 Act on the Relationship between the State and Jewish Religious Communities in the Republic of Poland. Followers of Islam, however, had not been legally permitted to conduct ritual slaughter without stunning the animal. An attempt to correct this situation was initiated by the Minister of Agriculture in 2004 when he issued a decree allowing for an exception to the requirement to stun an animal prior to slaughter in the case of animals slaughtered according to the religious traditions of registered religious communities. This decision was overturned by a 2012 decision by the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland, made effective January 1, 2013, which said that a government minister does not have the authority to amend the laws. However, in December 2014, in another decision, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that insofar as the Animal Protection Act does not allow an exception to permit religious forms of slaughter, it is inconsistent with freedom of religion provisions of the Polish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and therefore ritual slaughter must be permitted. Recent news reports have indicated that pending legislation to revise the animal welfare law could impose restrictions on kosher slaughter and block the export of kosher meat from Poland. The extent to which the legislation would in fact affect religious slaughter is unclear.

Russia

As in Georgia, Russia’s national legislation is silent regarding the protection of animals with respect to methods of slaughter for religious purposes. See the discussion of Customs Union rules under Belarus.

Slovenia

Slovenia’s Animal Welfare Act was amended in 2012 to add provisions banning all ritual slaughter of animals.

Spain

Under Law 32/2007 on the Care, Exploitation, Transportation and Sacrifice of Animals, Spain allows religious slaughter without previous stunning in approved slaughterhouses, provided that such procedure does not violate fundamental rights, public safety, health, and morality protected by law. The religious community or slaughterhouse must notify the competent authority that religious slaughter will be carried out or seek the pertinent permission. Religious slaughter must be carried out under the supervision and instructions of an official veterinarian. Royal Decree 37/2014 Regulating Aspects Related to the Protection of Animals to Be Slaughtered implements Law 32/2007 and provides for specific licensing, training, and certification requirements for slaughterhouses and veterinarians carrying out the slaughter of animals. It provides for the requirement of a license certifying their competence, to guarantee that the persons in charge of carrying out the slaughter have the necessary ability and experience. Violations of the Law and its Regulation are subject to fines of €601 to €6,000 (approximately US$740 to $7,384). Additionally, violators may be subject to the suspension of activities and/or closing of the slaughterhouse. No restrictions on the export of kosher or halal meat were identified.

Sweden

Sweden has a population of approximately 10.1 million people. Statistics Sweden (the national statistics bureau) does not provide statistics for religious affiliation or ethnic background, but others have estimated that there are 18,000 Jews and 810,000 Muslims living in Sweden. Sweden banned slaughter without prior sedation in 1937. The slaughter of animals is regulated by Sweden’s Animal Protections Act, which provides that animals must be sedated prior to slaughter. There is no exception for religious slaughter.

The sedation method accepted under law depends on what animal is to be slaughtered. Poultry and sheep may be sedated using electricity. Cattle may only be slaughtered using a penetrating bolt pistol. There are no additional requirements for religiously slaughtered animals compared with non- religiously slaughtered animals.

Swedish law allows for the import of kosher and halal meat that has been slaughtered without prior sedation. In addition, halal slaughter is performed in Sweden by Shafi and Hanifi Muslims who allow for sedation prior to slaughter. Halal meat, like all other meat slaughtered in Sweden, may be exported, provided the slaughter is performed in accordance with Swedish law. There are no requirements that halal meat be marked as halal. There are no pending proposals (motioner) in the Swedish Parliament to allow for un-sedated religious slaughter. The anti-immigration Sverigedemokraterna (Swedish Democrats) party has put forward a proposal that would require labelling of imported meat from animals slaughtered without prior sedation, specifically referring to a ban on kosher and halal products. Both the Jewish congregation in Stockholm and Muslim representatives are actively lobbying the Swedish Parliament to allow for slaughter in accordance with kosher and halal practices, i.e., without prior sedation of the animal. The Swedish government has presented a proposal to the law council (lagrådsremiss) for a new Animal Welfare Act. The proposal would not allow for religious slaughter without prior sedation.

Switzerland

Previously, Switzerland generally prohibited the killing of vertebrate animals without stunning. In 2018, its Animal Welfare Regulation was amended and an exception allowing the ritual slaughter of poultry without stunning was eliminated. Anyone who intentionally violates the provisions on animal slaughter is liable to a fine of up to CHF20,000 (around US$21,371).

III. European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice ruled on February 26, 2019, that meat from animals slaughtered without stunning cannot be labelled using the EU’s logo for organic products. While affirming that Regulation 1099/2009 permits slaughter without prior stunning as a derogation from general requirements to preserve freedom of religion, the Court ruled that the EU regulation governing organic production requires the use of processes reflecting a high level of animal welfare, including minimizing the suffering of animals at the time of slaughter. The Court found that slaughter without stunning is inconsistent with the high level of animal welfare implied by the organic logo.

Transgender Rights in India.

Transgender is an umbrella term used for persons whose gender identity and gender expression does not align with those assigned at birth. It can also refer to those who reject the gender binary of masculine and feminine. In India, they are often called Hijras, Aravanis, Jogtas and so on. The transgender community has always been an integral part of historical India where their presence and blessings at ceremonies was considered auspicious. Under the Mughal rule, they enjoyed strong royal connections and held high positions. With the advent of British colonization, the status and acceptance of transgenders declined. The imposition of a Euro-centric world view led to transgenders being viewed as moral and sexual contagion to supposedly deviant Indian males. The passing of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 (CTA) sought to further isolate transgenders by vilifying them as ‘habitual criminals’ and ‘sexual deviants.’

Newly independent India did little to better integrate transgender people into mainstream society. The census process, the most reliable source for data on demographic and literacy, omitted transgenders for the first 64 years. To relay the significance of this exclusion in numbers, when given the chance to identify themselves as transgenders in 2011, almost half a million out of 1.2 billion identified as transgenders. Transgenders are usually rejected from any means of employment and hence, resort to entertainment, begging, extortion or prostitution. The culmination of low literacy rates, low skill levels and the reluctance to accept transgenders has pushed them further into sex work and has increased the probability of violence against them. In terms of healthcare, the transgender community is 49 times more likely to be living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The National Aids Control Organisation in (NACO) in India estimates HIV prevalence among transgenders to be 7.5%. The increased stigmatization makes it difficult for them to access adequate healthcare facilities.

The Ministry of External Affairs was the first official body that allowed transgenders to identify with a separate category ‘E’ while applying for passports. Not only was this categorization derogatory but it excluded a large spectrum of individuals who fell under the trans category. In case of competitive politics, transgenders are often provided positions as a means of tokenism rather than inclusion. 2014 was a turning point in the history of transgender rights in India. The Supreme Court in NALSA v Union of India guaranteed the fundamental rights of transgender persons and promised provision of equal opportunities under the constitutional framework. Notably, the Court held that they had the right to decide their self-identified gender and vowed to uphold the ideals liberty, equality and freedom of expression. The Constitution must be interpreted in such a manner so that it ensures a dignified life for transgenders. Other directions to combat the societal stigma and sexual health issues faced by transgender persons, were also conveyed by the Court.

However, the judgement was not backed by a capable legislative framework to centrally aid the transgender community. Hence, the ongoing efforts to do so fructified in the passing of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 (hereafter ‘the Act’) which came into force on 10th January 2020. The Act aimed at providing a statutory basis to better protect the rights of transgender persons and establish procedures to orderly recognize their self-identified gender. Also, in the Act are provisions to prohibit discrimination against and secure the safety of the transgender community. Further, in April 2020, a Draft Transgender (Protections of Rights) Rules (hereafter, ‘the Rules’) under sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 22 of the Act was released by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Rules aim at strengthening the Act as well as focusing on the socio-economic hardships faced by transgender persons in the country.

Since its enactment, the Act has been challenged multiple times on the grounds that it violates the constitutional ideals recognized NALSA. For example, Section 6 and Section 7 of the Act have been criticized by members of the transgender community as violating guarantees against requirements of medical interventions for recognition of gender identity in NALSA. Further, the Act discards forceful binary instead establishing a trinary where ‘transgender’ is the only other alternative. This does not take into consideration those transgenders who would identify as male or female, and those who may be gender queer. Not only this but the wording of the Act also seems to impose a binary with ‘son/daughter’ and ‘his/her’ rather than the gender neutral ‘child’ and ‘their’.

Even with specific laws to help ease the life of the transgender community into mainstream society, their interaction with the legal and justice system is still tainted with unfair power dynamics. Cases of harassment, intimidation and violence at the hands of police are plenty but they are rarely acted against and the NCRB fails to maintain a record of these atrocities against transgender persons. The community often live with unrevealed sexual identities and this is taken advantage of by law enforcement. A study by the National Institute of Epidemiology among 60,000 transgender people across 17 states revealed that the biggest perpetrators of violence against transgender people were police and law enforcing authorities. One of the exceptions is the case of Jayalakshmi vs. Tamil Nadu, where the police was held accountable for the wrongful death of a transgender.

Implementation gap is most definitely the reason for deprivation of individual rights in India. While the Judiciary and Legislature have made efforts towards inclusion, the biggest challenge lies in better social acceptance and their integration normal, daily lives. We must aim grass-root level education that teaches that transgenders are not deviants and in fact, integral parts of our diverse society.

Commercial advertising.

INTRODUCTION

Advertising is an important and legitimate means for the seller to awaken interest in his goods and services. The success of advertising depends on public confidence. Hence no practice should be permitted which tends to impair this confidence. The standards laid down here should be taken as minimum standards of acceptability which would be liable to be reviewed from time to time in relation to the prevailing norms of viewer’s susceptibilities.

Definition –

  In this code, unless the context otherwise requires: –

• “Government” means, Government of India.
•  “Director General” means, the Director General, Doordarshan or any officer duly authorized by him on his behalf and includes the Director, Doordarshan Kendra.
• “Advertiser” means any individual or organization including a commercial concern which has offered any advertisement to telecast over television.
• “Advertising Agency” means any organization which is accreditation to or registered with Doordarshan as such.
•  “Advertisement” includes any item of publicity for goods or services inserted in the programme telecast by Doordarshan with a view to increase sales.
•  “Spot Advertisement” means any direct advertisement mentioning products/ services, their merits and other related details.
• “Advertising Association” means an Association or Society or any other body of whose constituent members are advertising agencies registered or accredited to Doordarshan.

SCOPE: –

(a) The Director General, Doordarshan shall be the sole judge of the suitability or otherwise of an advertisement for telecast and his/her decision in this regard shall be final.

(b) Doordarshan time shall be sold to the Advertisers/ Advertising Agencies at the sole discretion of the Director General, Doordarshan according to the prescribed rate.

(c) The advertisement should be clearly distinguishable from the programme by using suitable wipes/blank, in order to avoid the message of the programme getting mixed up with the content and images of the advertisement.

The following standards of conduct are laid down in order to develop and promote healthy advertising practices in Doordarshan. Responsibility for the observance of these rules rests equally upon the Advertiser and the Advertising Agency.

All those engaged in advertising are strongly recommended to familiarize themselves with the legislation affecting advertising in this country, particularly the following Acts and the Rules framed under them:-

(1) Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

(2) Drugs Control Act, 1950.

(3) Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

(4) Copyright Act, 1957.

(5) Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958.

(6) Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

(7) Pharmacy Act, 1948.

(8) Prize Competition Act, 1955.

(9) Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.

(10) Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

(11) Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

(12) AIR/ Doordarshan Code.

(13) Code of Ethics for advertising in India issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India.

  THE CODE

General Rules of Conduct in Advertising

1. Advertising shall be so designed as to conform to the laws of the country and should not offend morality, decency and religious susceptibilities of the people.

2. No Advertisement shall be permitted which-

     (i) derides any race, caste, colour, creed and nationality;

    (ii) is against any of the directive principles, or any other provision of the Constitution of India;

    (iii) tends to incite people to crime, cause disorder or violence, or breach of law or glorifies violence or obscenity in any way;

     (iv) presents criminality as desirable;

     (v) adversely affects friendly relations with foreign States;

     (vi) exploits the national emblem, or any part of the constitution or respected leaders, state dignitaries, Gods and Prophets belonging to various religions

    (vii) relates to or promotes cigarettes and tobacco products, liquor, wines and other intoxicants either directly or indirectly.

   (viii) shows institutions like Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Police, Traffic Police etc. in poor light.

Advertisement for services concerned with the following shall not be accepted. (i) Unlicensed employment services; (ii) Sooth-Sayers etc. and those with claims of hypnotism; (iii) Betting tips and guide books etc. relating to horse-racing or other games of chance.

6. Doordarshan accepts the advertisements of educational institutions/colleges. However, it must be ensured that the institutions/colleges are genuine so as to ensure that students do not get misled.

 Doordarshan will also accept advertisements relating to holiday resorts and hotels.

 Doordarshan also accepts the advertisements relating to real estate including sale of flats/land, flats for rent both commercial and residential.

 Doordarshan has also allowed the telecast of:

(i) Foreign products and foreign banks including financial services;

(ii) Jewellery and precious stones;

(iii)Mutual funds approved by SEBI; (iv) Hair dyes; (v)Matrimonial agencies.

“VIEWERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK THE GENUINENESS OF THE CLAIMS MADE”

7. The items advertised shall not suffer from any defect or deficiency as mentioned in Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

8. No advertisement shall contain references which are likely to lead the public to infer that the product advertised or any of its ingredients has some special or miraculous or super-natural property or quality which is difficult of being proved.

9. Scientific or statistical excerpts from technical literature etc., may be used only with a proper sense of responsibility to the ordinary viewer. Irrelevant data and scientific jargon shall not be used to make claims appear to have a scientific basis they do not possess. Statistics of limited validity should not be presented in a way as to make it appear that they are universally true.

10. Advertisements shall not contain disparaging or derogatory references to another product or service.

11. Visual and verbal representation of actual and comparative prices and costs shall be accurate and shall not mislead on account of undue emphasis or distortion.

12. The picture and the audible matter of the advertisement shall not be excessively „loud‟. This is to ensure that between the programme and the advertisement there is a smooth change-over avoiding jerkiness or shock to the viewers.

13. Information to consumer in matters of weight, quality or prices of products where given shall be accurate.

14. Advertisements indicating price comparisons or reductions must comply with relevant laws.

15. No advertisement shall be accepted which violates AIR and TV Broadcast Code which is reproduced below: –

General AIR/TV Code

(1) criticism friendly countries;

(2) attack on religions or communities;

(3) anything obscene or defamatory;

(4) incitement to violence or anything against maintenance of law and order;

(5) anything amounting to contempt of court;

(6) aspersions against the integrity of the President and Judiciary;

(7) anything affecting the integrity of the Nation; and

(8) criticism by name of any person.

16. No advertisement for a product or service shall be accepted if it suggests in any way that unless the children themselves buy or encourage other people to buy the products or services, they will be failing in their duty or lacking in loyalty to any person or organisation.

17. No advertisement shall be accepted which leads children to belief that if they do not own or use the product advertised they will be inferior in some way to other children or that they are liable to be condemned or ridiculed for not owning or using it.

18. Any advertisement which endangers the safety of the children or creates in them any interest in unhealthy practices, shall not be accepted.

19. Children shall not be shown begging or in undignified or indecent manner.

20. No advertisement likely to being advertising into contempt or disrepute shall be permitted. Advertising shall not take advantage of the superstition or ignorance of the general public.

21. No advertisements of talismans, charms and character reading from photographs or such other matter as well as those which trade on the superstition of general public shall be permitted.

22. Advertisements relating to or promoting astrology, numerology, palmistry and similar other forms of predictions shall not be permitted on Doordarshan.

23. Advertising shall be truthful, avoid distorting facts and misleading the public by means of implications and omissions. For instance, it shall not mislead the consumer by false statements, as to: (i) the character of the merchandise, i.e. its utility, materials, ingredients, origin etc.

(ii) the price of the merchandise, its value, its suitability or terms of purchase.

24. No advertisement shall be permitted to contain any claim exaggerated as to lead inevitably to disappointment in the minds of the public.

25. Methods of advertising designed to create confusion in the mind of the consumer as between goods by one maker and another maker are unfair and shall not be used. Such methods may consist in:

(i) the imitation of the trademark or name of competition or the packaging or labelling of goods; or

(ii) the imitation of advertising devices, copy, layout Or slogans.

26. Indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes or treatment shall be avoided in all advertisements. This also applies to such advertisements which in themselves are not objectionable as defined above, but which advertise objectionable books, photographs or other matter and thereby lead to their sale and circulation.

27. Advertisements shall not portray animals or birds in a cruel, insensitive, disturbing or obnoxious manner. Such advertisements shall conform to the prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960.

28. No advertisement which promotes directly or indirectly production, sale or consumption of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottle or infant foods shall be permitted.

In this modern age, we see women leading at every possible front. They are now more informed and educated and are confident enough to make their own decisions. They are masters of multi-tasking with juggling their careers and households at the same time.

Women have never felt more empowered than we do today. Women are running for office in record numbers. More women are pursuing entrepreneurship. Women are earning more bachelor’s degrees than men. More working mothers are the primary or sole earners in their households. The list goes on and on.

While they make their continuous progress, women should also pay a special attention to financial planning. This is one area which often takes a back seat in a woman’s life. Financial planning for women is a critical aspect for them to reach their personal as well as professional objectives, without being dependent on anyone.

Improving Financial Literacy Among Women

Financial planning is not a rocket science. It is more down to habit and careful management of your hard-earned money. Because of the limited exposure, women previously were not aware of the simple ways that contributed in successfully managing the finances.

Today, one way to tackle this is taking more interest in the subject and being aware about the basic things that build a solid financial foundation. It can also be called as improving the financial literacy. One can read books, finance magazines, news etc. to keep themselves updated about the latest trends in the domain.

Women deserve economic equality

On average, a woman today earns between 80 to 82 cents for every dollar a man earns or $9,308 less annually. By understanding how to manage personal finances, women will be better able to make informed economic decisions over the course of their lives. Also, women will have a better grasp of their worth in the marketplace. Ultimately this information can help to reduce the gender pay gap.

Financial Independence

One of the biggest reasons why women need financial planning is to be financially independent. With a sound plan, they can march confidently towards their personal and professional objectives without worrying about the financial implications. Also, it prepares them for any crisis in the future as well as raises corpus for retirement. Thus, it is high time for all the women to take active role in financial planning and take complete control of their finances. It is the first step towards achieving that coveted financial independence.

It becomes difficult to fathom an equal world without empowering women with equal social and economic opportunities. Making them financially literate is one of the most important area.

The highlighted factors that profoundly influenced financial literacy among Indian Women, which are:

1. Lack of independence
2. Culture
3. General Literacy
4. Lack of Confidence
5. Access (to finance)

State Initiative

The situation has goaded the government to launch schemes aimed at boosting financial literacy among women. The rationale being, this would lead to greater financial inclusion in the country.. These schemes encourage women to take up personal finance activities as savings and investments. The programmes also spread awareness of financial of fundamental financial issues that impact their lives, and to design the address the key components of financial literacy such as:

• The need to save
• Benefits of investing
• The difference between saving and investment
• The need for insurance
• The need for a regular stream of income after retirement, or in their old age
• The necessity of saving or investing regularly
• The advantages of savings in bank

Depression is a severe clinical illness. It’s greater than only a feeling of being unhappy or “blue” for some days. If you’re one of the greater than 19 million young adults and adults withinside the United States who’ve despair, the emotions do now no longer pass away. They persist and intervene together along with your ordinary life.

Symptoms can include:

Feeling unhappy or “empty”
Loss of hobby in favorite activities
Overeating, or now no longer trying to devour at all
Not being capable of sleep, or slumbering too a good deal
Feeling very tired
Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
Thoughts of loss of life or suicide
Depression is a sickness of the mind. There are a number of reasons, together with genetic, biological, environmental, and mental factors. Depression can take place at any age, however, it frequently starts offevolved in young adults and younger adults. It is a good deal greater, not an unusual place in women. Women also can get postpartum despair after the start of a baby. Some humans get seasonal affective sickness withinside the winter. Depression is one a part of bipolar sickness.

Causes

The clinical network does now no longer completely apprehend the reasons of despair. There are many viable reasons, and sometimes, different factors integrate to cause signs.

Factors which are probable to play a position include:

genetic features
modifications withinside the mind’s neurotransmitter levels
environmental factors
mental and social factors
extra conditions, together with bipolar sickness
Treatment
Natural remedies
Some humans use herbal remedies, together with natural medicines, to deal with mild-to-mild despair.

However, because the FDA does now no longer reveal natural remedies, producers won’t be honest approximately the first-class of those products. They won’t be secure or powerful.

The following are a number of the greater famous herbs and plant life that humans use to deal with despair:

St. John’s wort: This isn’t always appropriate for humans who’ve or can also additionally have bipolar sickness. Learn greater right here.

Ginseng: Practitioners of conventional medicinal drugs can also additionally use this to enhance intellectual readability and decrease stress. Find out greater right here approximately ginseng.

Chamomile: This includes flavonoids which could have an antidepressant effect. For greater statistics approximately chamomile, click on right here.

Lavender: This can also additionally assist lessen tension and insomnia. Learn greater right here approximately lavender.

It is vital to talk to a medical doctor earlier than the use of any form of natural treatment or complement to deal with despair. Some herbs can intervene with the movement of medication or in any other case make signs worse.

Supplements
A character can also additionally take the herbs above as dietary supplements to deal with signs of mild-to-mild despair. Other varieties of dietary supplements may additionally assist deal with those signs.

It is crucial to don’t forget that the FDA do now no longer reveals dietary supplements to make sure that they’re powerful or secure.

Nonherbal dietary supplements which could assist deal with despair include:

S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe): This is an artificial shape of a herbal chemical withinside the body.

5-hydroxytryptophan: This can also additionally assist raise serotonin, the neurotransmitter withinside the mind that impacts a character’s mood.

Some studies have cautioned that SAMe can be as useful because the prescription antidepressants imipramine and escitalopram, however greater research is necessary.

Learn greater approximately how herbs and dietary supplements can also additionally assist relieve despair.

Food and food plan
Eating plenty of sugary or processed meals can result in numerous bodily fitness problems. Results of a 2019 take a look at endorse that a food plan that consists of a lot of those varieties of meals may want to have an effect on the intellectual fitness of younger adults.

The take a look at additionally discovered that ingesting greater of the subsequent meals helped lessen despair signs:

fruit
vegetables
fish
olive oil