Page 2 - Gender Equality

China's male leaders signal to women that their place is at home

In a departure from a two-decade tradition, Xi's deputy, Ding Xuexiang, failed to mention in an opening address at the congress a standard phrase: That gender equality is a basic national policy

UN to declare gender apartheid as mental health of Afghan women worsens

The U.N.'s most powerful body must support governments seeking to legally declare the intensifying crackdown by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers on women and girls gender apartheid, the head of the U.N. agency promoting gender equality said Tuesday. Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, told the Security Council that more than 50 increasingly dire Taliban edicts are being enforced with more severity including by male family members. That is exacerbating mental health issues and suicidal thoughts especially among young women and is shrinking women's decision-making even in their own homes. They tell us that they are prisoners living in darkness, confined to their homes without hope or future," she said. Under international law, apartheid is defined as a system of legalized racial segregation that originated in South Africa. But a growing consensus among international experts, officials and activists says apartheid can also apply to gender in cases like that of Afghanistan, where .

Accelerate climate action with focus on gender equality: G20 Declaration

The G20 countries have established a new working group to promote women's empowerment

'Achieving gender equality goal impossible because of biases against women'

The UN goal of achieving gender equality by 2030 is impossible to attain because of deeply rooted biases against women around the world in heath, education, employment and the halls of power, the United Nations said in a report Thursday. "The world is failing women and girls," UN Women, the agency promoting gender equality, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in "The Gender Snapshot 2023" report. According to the UN's findings, "active resistance to gender equality and chronic under-investment are key factors in slow progress and, in some cases, reversals of gains already made". It said "unequal access to sexual and reproductive health, unequal political representation, economic disparities and a lack of legal protection, among other issues, prevent tangible progress". Assistant Secretary-General Maria-Francesca Spatolisano told a news conference launching the report that gender equality is becoming "an ever increasingly distant goal". She pointed to recent ..

Education Minister launches comic book on well-being for adolescents

From interpersonal relationships and gender equality to substance abuse prevention, a new comic book launched by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday guides adolescents on maintaining holistic well-being. "Focused on good health and wellness, this book will motivate students to prioritise holistic well-being while entertaining them through storytelling," Pradhan said at the launch of the comic book 'Let's Move Forward'. This comic book is "designed to cater to the diverse requirements of adolescents" and talks about the 11 thematic components of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP), Pradhan said. "These encompass a comprehensive range of subjects, including emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, gender equality, nutrition and health, substance abuse prevention, healthy lifestyles, reproductive health, internet safety, and more," the minister added. The SHWP, initiated under the Ayushman Bharat campaign in April, 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Mod

Women no subordinates to men, they don't need to be submissive: SC

Women are neither subordinate to men nor do they need to be submissive to anybody, as the Constitution guarantees equal rights to individuals of all genders, the Supreme Court has said in its 'Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes' while terming as "incorrect" some common stereotypes about the gender roles ascribed to men and women. The handbook, which contains a glossary of gender unjust terms and suggests alternative words and phrases which may be used, was launched on Wednesday. On the stereotypes based on gender roles, the handbook contains a table outlining some common stereotypes and gives reasons as to why they are incorrect. On the stereotype that "women should be submissive or subordinate to men", the handbook said, "The Constitution of India guarantees equal rights to individuals of all genders. Women are neither subordinate to men nor do they need to be submissive to anybody." Dealing with the stereotype that "women should do all the household chores", it said the ...

DGCA forms panel to ensure gender equality in civil aviation sector

Civil aviation regulator DGCA has set up a four-member committee to provide suggestions for achieving gender equality in the aviation sector in India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an order on August 10, 2023 stating that the objective of this committee is to suggest steps that DGCA should take to bring gender equality in the aviation sector. The four senior officers appointed as members of the committee are Survita Saxena, Director (Operations); R P Kashyap, Director (Training); Pavan Malviya, Deputy Director (Administration); and Kavita Singh, Deputy Director (Aircraft Engineering Directorate). They are supposed to formulate norms and submit them to DGCA which the regulator will further circulate among aviation stakeholders to adopt and bring in practice for gender equality. "The committee will submit its report/recommendation within six months from the date of its constitution," the order said. The initiative is in line with the commitment of Internati

Women's public presence in Afghanistan totally erased by Taliban: UN

Irene Khan said in a report that women's rights groups play an important role in the struggle for gender equality and in promoting the agency of women

Framing UCC for U'khand will strengthen social fabric, says ex-SC judge

The uniform civil code being drafted by a committee of experts for Uttarakhand will strengthen the social fabric, promote gender equality and help fight economic, social and religious inequalities, retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, who heads the panel, said on Wednesday. We are trying to make such a draft which is liked by everyone, people of every religion, Desai told reporters at an event organised here to seek suggestions on the proposed UCC from people of the hill state who live in the national capital. Desai heads the committee of experts set up by the Uttarakhand government in March 2022 for drafting the Uniform Civil Code, an election promise made by the BJP in the state. She said the committee will make recommendations for bringing a uniform civil code for a range of issues including marriage, divorce succession, guardianship, custody and inheritance with a primary focus on safeguarding the interests of women, children and the differently-abled. We are ...

Gender equality 'significantly important' for a world without hunger: UN

In a tweet on Saturday, the UN Secretary-General stated that gender equality is a fundamental requirement that must be addressed in order to remove hunger from the globe

India contributes $500,000 to UN entity for women empowerment: Amb Kamboj

India has contributed USD 500,000 to the UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, on Monday handed over the cheque towards the Government of India's contribution to the core voluntary budget of UN Women.Ruchira Kamboj said in a tweet that India's model is one of women-led development with emphasis on entrepreneurship and STEM education."I was delighted to handover a voluntary contribution of USD 500,000 on behalf of #India to @UNWomen. India's model is one of women-led development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, STEM education & grassroots women's leadership," she said.Sima Sami Bahous, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, received the cheque.Ruchira Kamboj reaffirmed the Indian government's steadfast commitment to the goals of gender equality, the empowerment of women and gender mainstreaming, as mentioned in the mandate of UN Women, ...

Gender equality in farming could add $1 trillion to world economy, says FAO

The number of people facing hunger this year is more than double what it was in 2020, according to the World Food Programme

Women-led development crucial for gender equality, growth: Munjapara

Women entrepreneurship is vital for achieving gender equality along with economic growth and the country has made huge strides in this area, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Munjapara Mahendrabhai said on Wednesday. Addressing the delegates, panelists, and participants of the Second G20 Empower meet which is underway here, the minister called for working towards creating an ecosystem that nurtures women entrepreneurship and leadership ensuring greater access to mentoring, capacity building, and financing to help them scale up their businesses. The minister, in his inaugural address on the theme 'Women's Empowerment: A Win-Win for Equity and Economy', also urged for focus on promoting women-led development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, STEM education, and grassroots women's leadership. "One of the key areas of focus is women's entrepreneurship, which India sees as vital for achieving gender equality and economic growth. India has already made significan

Germany ramps up funding for UN women in 2023 for gender equality

Germany has pledged 26 million euros ($27.6 million) to UN Women in 2023, the country's Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) said

Gender equality will take 300 years to achieve, says UN chief

Pay gap for women who've never got married getting bigger: Study

Int'l Women's Day: UN calls for innovation, technology for gender equality

UN has chosen the theme 'DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality' for Women's Day 2023 to examine the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequality

Gender equality in boardrooms out of reach until 2038, says MSCI

This means women will not take an average of 50% of board seats across the 2,811 companies which make up MSCI's All Country World Index (ACWI) until 2038, based on the current trajectory

Women can take any responsibility; gender disparity being shattered: Prez

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday noted that woman have excelled in every sphere of life, be it politics, space science, technology, sports, literature and music. Women have proved that they are capable of shouldering any responsibility, involving the society as well as the country as a whole, she said, addressing the second convocation ceremony of her alma mater, the Rama Devi Women's University (RDWU), here. Murmu, who is in her home state on a two-day visit, said, "Gender discriminations that created social disparities have been shattered. Be it politics, defense, space science, technology, sports, literature, music or arts, women have excelled in every realm of life. For the first time in the history of Parliament, there are more than 100 MPs," the President pointed out. Walking down the memory lane, the President, who hails from remote Rairangpur area in trial-dominated Mayurbhanj district, stated that the lessons she learned and experiences she gained in her college has helpe

Women work harder than men, finds anthropological study in rural China

Women walked on average just over 12,000 steps per day, while men walked just over 9,000 steps

Jobs top agenda at PM Modi's meeting with chief secretaries on Jan 5

Conclave will focus on two broad pillars: Growth & Jobs, and Health, Gender & Climate, will also set agenda for the next meeting of Niti Aayog Governing Council