Women empowerment: discrimination, violence and harassment against women

“The role of women in the development of the society is of utmost importance. In fact, it is the only thing that determines whether a society is strong and harmonious, or otherwise. Women are the backbone of the society” rightly said by Pandit Ravi Shankar. Firstly the researcher will lay emphasis on what actually is Women Empowerment? In simple words women empowerment means, creating such an environment in which a woman is having a choice of making independent decisions for her personal development in the society. Secondly, emphasis would be put on measures to reduce discrimination against women, in the present society and particularly in a country like India, women are discriminated though the Constitution of India pledges to secure all its citizens under Article 14 which is a Fundamental Right, talks about Right to Equality, but in reality the women are not given any status of equality whether it is related to any kind of job, education or maybe anything. This shows the amount of discrimination against women in our country. Also there are certain International Conventions such as CEDAW, 1979 which talks about the women empowerment. The demand for Women Empowerment has come to be so vital in the present globe that in July 2010 the UN has crafted UN Women, an Entity for Gender Fairness and the Empowerment of Women.

Thirdly, the research paper will discuss about the numerous Sexual harassment cases which are taking place against women and recently in favour to this Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 came into force which ensures women to be protected against sexual harassment at work place and this will also help them in realising there right of gender equality. Further the Supreme Court commented in one of the cases that “Gender equality includes protection from sexual harassment and right to work with dignity, which is a universally recognized basic human right”. Fourthly, a secondary data methodology will be used in which I will be collecting all the data and statistics from the established news, magazine reports, journals, internet and libraries around India. Lastly critical analysis and suggestions will be presented by the researcher on how these acts of discrimination and harassment against women can be curbed.