For the first time, a UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women will visit India next week to assess the overall situation of violence against women at a time when questions are being raised on the safety and security of women there.
Rashida Manjoo, the Special Rapporteur, charged by the Human Rights Council to monitor violence against women, its causes and consequences worldwide, will meet with government authorities and civil society in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, among other regions, during her ten-day visit, starting from April 22.
"I intend to look into violence against women, its causes and consequences, in its broadest possible sense," she said while stressing that "recent events, including the tragedy of a young woman who was brutally gang-raped, have provided an opportunity for further reflection on laws, policies and practices and the barriers to, and challenges of, effective implementation."
Based on the information obtained during the visit, Manjoo will present a report with her final findings and recommendations to a forthcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council, a UN release on her visit said here.
The UN expert's visit to India comes at a time when questions are being raised internationally about the safety and security of women there. As recent as last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on a visit to Germany, faced these issue during his discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
