1. Harshal R Salve, Kapil Yadav, Chandrakant S Pandav Centre for Community Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

2.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights  The Constitution of India  What is women empowerment?  Significant global events towards women empowerment  Women empowerment & population stabilization  History of status of women in India  Current status of women empowerment in India  The way forward 4/28/2015 2

3. Article 2. Universal declaration of human rights. (Available at http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/#atop) http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/#atop “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status” 4/28/2015 3

4.  WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship EQUALITY of status and of opportunity and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation 4/28/2015 4

5. Women's empowerment has five components: o Sense of self-worth o Right to have and to determine choices o Right to have access to opportunities and resources o Right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home o Ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, nationally and internationally Guidelines on women's empowerment, united nations population information network (POPIN) un population division, department of economic and social affairs 1995 4/28/2015 5

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7. 1 st UNs World Conference on Women, Mexico 1975 The UN Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979 2 nd UN World Conference on Women, Copenhagen 1980 4 th UN World Conference on Women, Beijing, China 1995 Millennium Summit, New York 2000 4/28/2015 7 3 rd UN World Conference on Women, Nairobi 1985

8.  28 countries: women make up over 30% of parliamentarians  European countries: Increase in the number of women police officers helps to overcome reluctance in reporting sexual assault  Sweden: Improved paternity leave has reduced the gender pay gap  Nepal: Tax exemptions have incentivized families to transfer land to daughters, sisters and wives Michelle Bachelet (ED & secretary-general), And Justice for All, The Times of India, New Delhi; July 7,2011 4/28/2015 8

9. Women Empowerment Increased awareness Improved help seeking behaviour Improved social status Improved social status Population stabilization Age at marriage Number of children Child spacing Age at 1 st child Decision taking power 4/28/2015 9

10. Freedom to choose partners for marriage Daughters were not considered as liability or unwelcomed guest in the family Widow marriages were permissible Freedom to choose partners for marriage Daughters were not considered as liability or unwelcomed guest in the family Widow marriages were permissible Status of women Vedic period (1500-1000 BC) Vedic period (1500-1000 BC) Women had Subjugated status But gave the message that respectable wife is one who humbles herself vis-à-vis her husband Women had Subjugated status But gave the message that respectable wife is one who humbles herself vis-à-vis her husband Period of epics (1000-500 BC) Period of epics (1000-500 BC) Did not deserve the freedom at any point of time in her life Not marring a girl before the age of 14 years was a sin Did not deserve the freedom at any point of time in her life Not marring a girl before the age of 14 years was a sin Age of Manushatra (500 – 200 BC) Age of Manushatra (500 – 200 BC) 4/28/2015 10 Maitreyi, Gargi Philosophers & women seers

11. "A woman must never be independent. As a child she should depend on father, in her youth on her husband and after his death to her sons.” "She has to obey her husband or brother whoever takes responsibility of her and she must not insult his memory after his death.“ "A woman can emaciate her body by living on pure flowers, roots, and fruit but she must never think of another man after her husband's death or about remarriage.“ 4/28/2015 11

12. "A man can remarry if the wife dies.“ "The husband employs his wife in the collection and expenditure of his wealth, in keeping everything clean, in the fulfillment of religious duties, in the preparation of his food, and in looking after the household utensils." "A husband must be constantly worshiped as a god by a faithful wife, despite that he is destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure elsewhere, or devoid of good qualities.“ 4/28/2015 12

13. Purdah system was in place Polygamy, strict laws for women were prevalent Purdah system was in place Polygamy, strict laws for women were prevalent Medieval period (11 th century) Medieval period (11 th century) 11 th to 19 th century Women lived life of total subjugation & virtually lost all hopes of emancipation 19 th century Social reform movements by Vidyasagar, Ranade, Jyotiba Phule, Maharshi Karve etc. Increase in child marriages, sati, dowry, social out casting of widows Status of women 4/28/2015 13

14.  1829: Sati Prohibition Act  1848: 1 st School for Girls by Jyotiba Phule  1856: Widow Remarriage Act  1929: Sarada Act (Child Marriage Restraint Act) 4/28/2015 14

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16.  Step daughter of a famous Dr. Sakharam Arjun  Married at age of 11 years to a uneducated, poor Dadaji Thakur  Legally repudiated her child marriage  Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, and the Age of Consent Act in 1891 4/28/2015 16

17.  Studied at “London School of Medicine for Women”  Worked at Madam Kama Hospital in Surat for few years  Worked at Malavi hospital at Surat for most of her life now known as “Rukhmabai hospital”  First Indian woman doctor who practiced medicine Dr. Anandi Joshi was the first lady doctor 4/28/2015 17

18.  Under the leadership of Gandhiji, women participated in social movement against dowry and child marriages “If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior”.  Under the leadership of Gandhiji, women participated in social movement against dowry and child marriages 4/28/2015 18

19. “You can tell condition of nation by looking at the status of its women” 4/28/2015 19

20. “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved” 4/28/2015 20

21. Hindu Marriage Act 1955 The Dowry Prohibition Act The maternity Benefit Act 1961 The Equal Remuneration Act 1976 The Indecent Representation of Women [Prohibition] Act 1986 Formation of National Commission of Women 1990 4/28/2015 21

22. 4/28/2015 22 Constitutional amendments for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayat and Municipalities 1993 The National Policy for the Empowerment of Women 2001 Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

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24. o Total population - 1210.2 million (2011) {Almost equal to the combined population of U.S.A., Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together} o Women population - 586.5 million (48.5%) o Sex ratio (0 – 6 years) – 914 (women/1000 men) {Lowest since independence} 4/28/2015 24

25. Census data 2001,2011, RGI, GOI Literacy rate Department of education, Ministry of Human Resource & Development 2006-07 4/28/2015 25

26.  Work participation of women(2001) – 25.63%  Urban: rural ratio of work participation of women - 11.88: 30.79  Women working in unorganized sectors – 80%  Women economically active at 15 years (2009) – 33% 4/28/2015 26 Source: Google images

27.  Participation of women in elections increased over the years  Proportion of women turnout for voting (2009) – 58.2% Source: Election Commission of India 4/28/2015 27 58.2 48.0

28.  Proportion of women in national parliament dipped till year 2007  “Women Reservation Bill” is still pending in the parliament 4/28/2015 28 Proportion of women in national parliament

29.  37 % - experienced physical or sexual violence by their husbands.  High inter-state variations (Himachal Pradesh – 6 %, Bihar – 59 %).  54 % women feel that it is justified if the husband beats his wife (under certain circumstances). 4/28/2015 29 Source: Google images

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31. Women Empowerment Strength Economically independent women Industry Wisdom Women literacy Women participation in election Proportion of women in parliament, local bodies Empathy 4/28/2015 31

32. ANM ASHA AWW Women empowerment by community participation Health system 4/28/2015 32 0.75 million 0.19 million 1.2 million

33. 4/28/2015 33 Universal primary education Emphasis on girl child Economic equality

34. Population stabilization…is it possible? “Its always seems impossible until its done” 4/28/2015 34 Nelson Mandela ( Social Activist and 1 st President of South Africa)

35. 4/28/2015 35 Knowing is not enough, we must apply; Willing is not enough, we must do.”…. Goethe Knowing is not enough, we must apply; Willing is not enough, we must do.”…. Goethe THANK-YOU JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE (1749 – 1832) German Writer (Poetry, Drama, Prose, Philosophy & Sciences) Pictorial artist, Biologist, Theoretical Physicist, Polymath