[Rights Issues] Beijing+20 Review Meeting, Gender Equality, India’s stand-Caste vs Social origin
- 1995: Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action
- The 12 Key areas of Beijing Declaration
- What happened after Beijing 1995?
- 2014: Beijing+20 review meeting for Asia-Pacific
- India’s stand at Beijing+20 Asia-Pacific meeting
- Mock Questions
1995: Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action
- Since 1975, United Nations has organized 4 world conferences on Women at Mexico, Copenhagen, Nairobi and Beijing.
- 1995: The fourth World conference on Women, at Beijing, China led to “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”.
- It charted out 12 key areas for women empowerment and protection.
The 12 Key areas of Beijing Declaration
1.Environment |
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2.Poverty 3.Economy |
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4.Health |
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5.Girl child6.Education-training |
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7.Violence 8.Human rights |
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9.Armed conflicts |
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10.Institutional mechanisms 11.Decision-making |
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12.Media |
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What happened after Beijing 1995?
2000 | 5-years review of “Beijing platform for action”. |
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2005 | 10-years review of “Beijing platform for action”. |
2014 November |
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2015 March |
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2014: Beijing+20 review meeting for Asia-Pacific
At Bangkok, the ministers agreed on following:
Poverty
- Migrant women are not given basic labour rights such as union-formation and collective bargaining.
- Gender equality is prerequisite to sustainable Development.
- We’ve to strictly enforce CEDAW- Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
- Many women survive on less than $2 a day. We’ve to solve this persistent feminization of poverty.
- At primary school, girl-students have increased but we’ve to ensure they continue till highschool and vocational training. Only then, education will improve economic conditions of women.
Public-Health
- We’ve to pay special focus to girl child, indigenous (tribal) women, and disabled women.
- Maternal Mortality ratio has declined in Asia, female life expectancy has improved. But challenges still remain: shortage of birth attendants, family planning, unsafe abortions.
- We’ve to stop the new cases of HIV infection among females.
- Age appropriate sex-education is necessary.
Safety
- The police and judicial officers still behave with gender-stereotype mindset.
- We’re worried about the rising incidents of sexual crimes, cybercrimes and domestic violence against women. Even medieval practices such as witch-hunting, honor-killing and genital mutilation are reported from some countries.
- Internet and Mobile companies need to ensure safety of women. (recall Uber-App Delhi-rape incident)
Decision Making
- Some countries have provided women reservation in local-political bodies. We welcome this. But still, women participation is dismal in parliament and corporate governance.
- Need to improve gender-budgeting mechanism to stop duplication of schemes and ensure accountability on money spent.
- Governments should help NGOs and grassroot organizations working for women rights.
India’s stand at Beijing+20 Asia-Pacific meeting
- Yes, our country has deep rooted gender inequalities in education, employment, decision and health care.
- Therefore, we are unable to translate economic growth into inclusive development.
- But there is no armed conflict in the country. In other words, UN and foreign NGOs need not poke their head in alleged women-abuse during operations against Maoists, secessionists and terrorists in India.
- In the ministerial declaration, India forced the panel members to change the word “caste” to “social origin”.
- In other words, Caste is not a factor for gender inequality in India (!). Perhaps this wordplay was done to ensure UN racial discrimination Committees and foreign NGOs do not poke their head in caste-based violence in of India. In 2001 too, India followed the same line: caste-discrimination is not same as racism.
- We’ve take many initiative for women safety and women empowerment: Nirbhaya fund, Beti bachao, Janani Suraksha, women reservation in local bodies and so on.
Mock Questions
Q1. Find correct statement(s) about Beijing declaration and platform for action
- In 1995, the first Women conference was held in Beijing.
- This conference chartered out 15 pillars for gender equality.
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q2. Find incorrect statement(s) about Beijing+20 Meeting for Asia Pacific nations.
- It was held at Beijing, China in 2014.
- Its main purpose was to review the implementation of Beijing Declaration on protection of women during armed conflicts.
- It was held under the aegis of UNESCO.
Answer choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- All of Them
Q3. At Beijing+20 review meeting for Asia-Pacific countries, government of India ___.
- refused existence of gender inequality in India.
- refused existence of any armed conflicts in India.
- refused existence of “caste” as a factor of gender inequality.
Correct Answer choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- None of them
Q4. Consider following statements about UN-ESCAP
- It is one of the five regional Development arms of United Nations
- It’s headquarter is located at Bangkok, Thailand
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Q5. Find correct Pairs
- Rio+20: Climate change
- Beijing+20: Gender equality
- Rio+20: sustainable Development
- Beijing+20: Rights of Women and children
Answer choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 3 and 4
- Only 1 and 4
Mains: General Studies Paper 1
- The rigidity of socially ascribed gender role is the main contributing factors to feminization of poverty. Elaborate
- Gender equality is the prerequisite to sustainable Development. Elaborate
- (GS2) Beijing declaration is considered the watershed document for gender equality in World. Discuss the policies and schemes by Government for its full implementation in India.
- (Essay) Equality for women is progress for all. [This was the theme of International Women’s Day 2014]
- (Interview) Beijing declaration wants countries to introduce ‘age-appropriate’ sex education. Are you in favour of this? Justify your stand.
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