Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694873246401.pdf (India)
NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, 2001 Introduction The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles .
The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed at women's advancement in different spheres.

From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a marked shift in the approach to women's issues from welfare to development.
In recent years, the empowerment of women has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of women.

The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women.
The 73 rd and 74 th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels.

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India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women.
Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

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The Mexico Plan of Action (1975), the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985), the Beijing Declaration as well as the Platform for Action (1995) and the Outcome Document adopted by the UNGA Session on Gender Equality and Development & Peace for the 21 st century, titled "Further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action " have been unreservedly endorsed by India for appropriate follow up.

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The Policy also takes note of the commitments of the Ninth Five Year Plan and the other Sectoral Policies relating to empowerment of Women.

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The women's movement and a wide-spread network of non-Government Organisations which have strong grass-roots presence and deep insight into the women's concerns have contributed empowerment of women.

initiatives inspiring for in 5.


However, there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies, plans, programmes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in India, on the other.
This has been analyzed extensively in the Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, "Towards Equality", 1974 and highlighted in the National Perspective Plan for Women, 1988-2000, the Shramshakti Report, 1988 and the Platform for Action, Five Years After- An assessment" 6.

Gender disparity manifests itself in various forms, the most obvious being the trend of continuously declining female ratio in the population in the last few decades.
Social stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels are some of the other manifestations.

Discrimination against girl children, adolescent girls and women persists in parts of the country.

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The underlying causes of gender inequality are related to social and economic structure, which is based on informal and formal norms, and practices.

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Consequently, the access of women particularly those belonging to weaker sections including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Other backward Classes and minorities, majority of whom are in the rural areas and in the informal, unorganized sector – to education, health and productive resources, among others, is inadequate.

Therefore, they remain largely marginalized, poor and socially excluded.
Goal and Objectives The goal of this Policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women.

The Policy will be widely disseminated so as to encourage active participation of all stakeholders for achieving its goals.

Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include 1.

Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full development of women to enable them to realize their full potential.

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The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on equal basis with men in all spheres – political, economic, social, cultural and civil .

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Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation 4.

Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc.
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Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women 6.

Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of both men and women.

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Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process.

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Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child; and 9.

Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women’s organizations.
Policy Prescriptions Judicial Legal Systems Legal-judicial system will be made more responsive and gender sensitive to women’s needs, especially in cases of domestic violence and personal assault.

New laws will be enacted and existing laws reviewed to ensure that justice is quick and the punishment meted out to the culprits is commensurate with the severity of the offence.

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At the initiative of and with the full participation of all stakeholders including community and religious leaders, the Policy would aim to encourage changes in personal laws such as those related to marriage, divorce, maintenance and guardianship so as to eliminate discrimination against women.

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The evolution of property rights in a patriarchal system has contributed to the subordinate status of women.
The Policy would aim to encourage changes in laws relating to ownership of property and inheritance by evolving consensus in order to make them gender just.

Decision Making 1.

Women’s equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making, including decision making in political process at all levels will be ensured for the achievement of the goals of empowerment.
All measures will be taken to guarantee women equal access to and full participation in decision making bodies at every level, including the legislative, executive, judicial, corporate, statutory bodies, as also the advisory Commissions, Committees, Boards, Trusts etc.

Affirmative action such as reservations/quotas, including in higher legislative bodies, will be considered whenever necessary on a time bound basis.
Women–friendly personnel policies will also be drawn up to encourage women to participate effectively in the developmental process.