Gender and Human Rights

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The rights of women are an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of universal human rights. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, women perform an estimated 60 percent of the world's total work but receive only 10 percent of the world's income and own a mere 1 percent of the world's land. They constitute nearly 60 percent of world's poor. Recent attempts at structural adjustments and economic liberalization have led to further marginalization of women and an increasing feminization of poverty, particularly in the developing countries. India is no exception to these trends.Gender equality is at the very heart of human rights and United Nations values. 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 are the responsibility of all States. The global framework laid out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is an ambitious one that paints the picture of a peaceful and prosperous world. In order to address the pervasive problems of poverty, violence and inequality and see a transformative shift in our society, we must commit to taking the bold steps outlined in each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing human rights and gender is a necessity for this. This book will be of enormous value to students of gender studies and anthropology alike.

Rajendra Naraya Singh is Assistant Professor (Sr. Scale), Department of Political Science, Marwari College, Bhagalpur. His several research papers Haye been published in reputed journals. He has also attended many national seminars.

The rights of women are an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of universal human rights. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, women perform an estimated 60 percent of the world's total work but receive only 10 percent of the world's income and own a mere 1 percent of the world's land. They constitute nearly 60 percent of world's poor. Recent attempts at structural adjustments and economic liberalization have led to further marginalization of women and an increasing feminization of poverty, particularly in the developing countries. India is no exception to these trends. The traditional Indian social structure is heavily tilted in favour of men, giving them authority and prestige while confining women primarily to domestic roles. Even if women work outside the home, most of them have no control over their own earnings. Even in the case of highly educated and professionally qualified women, a dowry is still provided at the time of marriage. That is why in many communities, the birth of a female child is still treated as a curse and a financial liability. In some regions sex detection tests and female infanticide are widely practiced, disturbing India's male-female ratio adversely over the last few decades.

Gender equality is at the very heart of human rights and United Nations values. 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. The global framework laid out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is an ambitious one that paints the picture of a peaceful and prosperous world. In order to address the pervasive problems of poverty, violence and inequality and see a transformative shift in our society, we must commit to taking the bold steps outlined in each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing human rights and gender is a necessity for this. The Indian government has also passed various legislation-including the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Succession Act, the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, Indecent Representation of Women Prevention Act, and the Sati Prevention Act-to safeguard the dignity, control of sexuality, and reproductive rights of women. Many judicial verdicts have also favoured the rights of women in order to raise their status. However, the constitutional and legal provisions appear to be too radical in view of prevailing socio-cultural realities, which frequently create a resistance to the special protection and acceleratory measures that were designed to enable women in India to achieve their just and equal position in society. The majority of women in India act as custodians of family well-being and in general are neither aware of their legal rights nor anxious to assert themselves against established norms and practices. Traditional values and behavioural norms, which have evolved over thousands of years, inhibit women from asserting themselves as individuals, except in a very limited context. The success of several thousand Indian women who, after independence, used courage, financial means, and family support to break socio-cultural barriers does not imply the emancipation of Indian women or the enjoyment of human rights by Indian women in general. Most Indian women are still waiting for equality, and many are forced to live what may be considered subhuman lives. Working women have to face additional problems, owing to conflicts in their educational values and age-old socialization practice.

This book will be of enormous value to students of gender studies and anthropology alike.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages