The recommendations were given by Indian diplomat Guarav Kumar Thakur during the 45th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations. ndia has called on China to steadfastly uphold its commitment to human rights and gender equality, while asking it to play a constructive role in the realisation of aspirations of developing countries. The recommendations were given by Indian diplomat Guarav Kumar Thakur during the 45th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations. India gave China three recommendations during the UPR which included, "Continue taking steps to ensure fullest enjoyment of basic human rights by its people through inclusive and sustainable development." Secondly, India told China to "continue taking measures to promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls." Lastly, India urged China to "continue to play a constructive role in the realisation of aspirations of developing countries including through reform of mulitateral institutions." China's human rights record is facing international scrutiny during the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, taking place from January 22 to February 2. This review is a unique opportunity for member states to hold China accountable for its human rights obligations, according to analysts and rights advocates. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer-review process under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council, where UN Member States assess each other's human rights records, their fulfilment of human rights obligations and commitments, and provide recommendations to the State under review. This is China's fourth appearance before this mechanism. The last one was in November 2018. At the time, countries called out the existence of mass detention camps for Uyghurs a few months after they were revealed by a UN committee. During China's 3rd UPR in November 2018, China received 346 recommendations from 150 countries, and accepted 284 of them, with many questionably noted as 'accepted and already implemented.' Despite a seemingly high acceptance rate, China broadly rejected recommendations on the rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans, cooperation with the UN and unrestricted UN access to all regions of the country, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, the death penalty and the ratification of international treaties. Since 2018, mounting human rights abuses have been largely documented by a range of UN human rights bodies. After the narrow defeat of a resolution calling for a debate on the situation in Xinjiang at the Human Rights Council, in September 2022, the UPR is one of the few spaces left where China's record can be openly discussed, challenged and scrutinised on the basis of UN information. This is also the first UPR session since the publication in 2022 of the UN 'Xinjiang Report', which found that Beijing's actions against Uyghurs and other minorities could amount to 'crimes against humanity', and which Chinese diplomacy has worked hard to suppress. In the absence of a UN Human Rights Council debate on the human rights situation in China, the UPR is a rare moment of global scrutiny of the country's human rights crisis.  Source: ANI

There's a clear correlation between the pay gap between men and women, and the birth of the first child, say statisticians. Women in Germany earned 18% less on average than men in 2023, the country's Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) said on Thursday. On an adjusted basis, the gap was 6%, it added.   The report showed that women, on average, earned €20.84 ($22.7) per hour last year, compared with €25.3 for men. Statisticians have been calculating the gender pay gap — which shows the difference in average gross earnings between men and women — since 2006 when it stood at 23%. The difference had steadily decreased until 2020, to 18%. It has remained unchanged since then. There are also regional differences within Germany: While the pay gap in western Germany stood at 19%, it was far lower in states that were formerly part of the communist East Germany, at 7%.    What are the reasons behind the gap? Destatis came up with several reasons why the pay gap has persisted. It said women's earnings begin to stagnate from the age of 30 years, the average age when women in Germany have their first child. "This could be because women interrupt their careers more frequently during their working lives for family reasons and work part-time," the agency said, citing child care and household responsibilities. It pointed out that women's career advancement and pay rises are therefore less frequent. The agency said structural reasons could have also contributed to the gap. It said women are more likely than men to work in sectors and professions that pay less. "They are also more frequently employed part-time or in marginal employment than men, which is also associated with lower average gross hourly earnings." For women and men employed for the same number of hours with the same qualifications in the same kinds of jobs, the statistics show that women earn 6% less than men on average. Pay gap not just in Germany Gender pay gap persists not just in Germany, but also across the European Union. In the EU overall, women are paid 13% less than men on average for an equal job, according to the European Commission. And progress on closing this gap has been slow.   In March 2020, the European Commission set out a strategy to close the gender pay gap by 2025. The Pay Transparency Directive was introduced in June 2023, making it possible for workers to determine if they're being discriminated against, or for employers to make sure they're applying the principles of equal pay.

Bangladesh, a country nestled in South Asia, has been making significant strides in the realm of women’s empowerment and gender equality, largely due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her relentless efforts and strategic policies have played a pivotal role in uplifting the status of women, promoting their active participation in various sectors, and fostering an environment of gender inclusivity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has implemented a series of policies and initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers that hindered women’s progress. One such groundbreaking policy is the National Women Development Policy, which underscores the government’s commitment to gender mainstreaming and creating an enabling environment for women to thrive in all aspects of society. Recognizing education as the cornerstone of empowerment, Prime Minister Hasina has focused on enhancing educational opportunities for girls. The ‘Girl’s Stipend Program’ and ‘Kishoree Kontha’ initiative have incentivized female education, ensuring girls can access quality education and build a strong foundation for their future. Furthermore, initiatives like ‘Skills for Employment Investment Program’ and ‘Women in IT’ programs have been instrumental in imparting skill development, enabling women to participate actively in the workforce and entrepreneurial ventures. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has taken significant strides to enhance women’s participation in politics, ensuring their voices are heard at all levels of governance. The reserved seats for women in the parliament and local government bodies have boosted their representation, thus amplifying their role in shaping the nation’s policies and strategies. Bangladesh has seen a substantial increase in women’s participation in the workforce across various sectors. The government’s efforts to promote women entrepreneurs through easier access to loans, training, and market linkages have empowered countless women to establish their businesses and contribute to the nation’s economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also prioritized addressing violence against women and ensuring their safety. The establishment of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and the National Helpline for Violence against Women and Children showcase the government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for women. In essence, Bangladesh, under the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has witnessed a paradigm shift in promoting gender equality and empowering women. The strides made in education, political representation, economic participation, and safety initiatives have set a positive trajectory, demonstrating the power of visionary leadership and commitment to fostering an egalitarian society. With continued dedication and focused efforts, Bangladesh is poised to elevate its position on the global stage as a beacon of gender equality and empowerment. Source: Ifras.org

Over thirty prominent women leaders from the government, private sector, academia, media, and non-government organizations participated in a high-level round table organized by the United Nations in Bangladesh to discuss advancing gender equality. The high-level roundtable on “the Role of Women in Bangladesh: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Public Life” took place on 24 September and provided a rare opportunity for women leaders from different walks of life to meet and reflect together on existing barriers to further advance gender parity, to ensure non-discrimination, and to address the challenges faced by women and girls in the country.  Bangladesh's first female Speaker of Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, was the Chief Guest at the roundtable, which was moderated by the UN Resident Coordinator, Gwyn Lewis. Among other participants of the event were the Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, Alexandra Berg von Linde, the UN Women Country Representative Gitanjali Singh and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, Kristine Blokhus. Commenting on the importance of women’s role in society, the Speaker of Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, noted that “a smart Bangladesh needs that we address the structural barriers and harness the full potential of women in economic life to maintain the momentum for sustainable development, especially as we graduate from the least developed countries (LDC) status.” In her opening remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator praised Bangladesh’s significant achievements in its sustainable development and highlighted that this progress had been driven in large part by the extraordinary contributions of women.  “In the past fifty years, Bangladesh has made incredible achievements in its remarkable development journey. Women’s participation, representation, and leadership in all areas of public life has significantly increased, but there remains a vast untapped potential which will only be fulfilled through the investment in women and girls and - in their health, education, decent jobs and social protection, productive capacities and protection from discrimination - is taken seriously and if they, as agents of their own change, have a bigger role in public life.” At the roundtable, women leaders shared their diverse experiences, successes, and challenges. They discussed barriers to women’s representation and leadership and identified actions to jointly tackle these issues to advance gender equality in Bangladesh.

A two-day national level workshop on capacity building for women and gender equity concluded on Saturtday here in the Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The workshop organized by the Department of higher education, Government of Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with the Government College of Education, Srinagar saw a huge participation of dignitaries, including professors, educationists, scholars, researchers, and students. They highlighted the major and positive role played by women to develop society as well as the nation. The workshop underscored how the lack of education and proper awareness among women were leading to domestic violence, thus forcing the women to clamour for their rights, they said. Experts also thrust on the need for proper education of girl children especially in far-flung areas so that they can play their role in future and overall society will be empowered, they said.

Hundreds of women, men and transgender persons on Sunday took part in the Aurat March in Karachi demanding the eradication of poverty, hunger and discrimination on the basis of gender, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. The march brought together people from diverse classes and age groups. The central theme for this year's Aurat March was "Riyasat jawab do, bhook ka hisab do" (State give an answer and be accountable for hunger). According to Geo News, the venue for the march was changed for the second consecutive year as the marchers gathered at the Burns garden Karachi at around 4 pm. The date of the march was also changed this year from March 8 to 12 as the organisers wanted to hold the march on Sunday to ensure maximum participation. The attendance was, however, lower compared to earlier marches. The reason for the lower attendance could be the recent law and order situation in the country, an organiser told Geo.tv. One of the organisers on the occasion of the march said: "Hunger, poverty, climate change and inflation are all feminist issues as women -- who are a majority in Pakistan -- bear the brunt of all these issues more heavily than other sections of society." The event was marked with musical performances to raise awareness about issues such as forced conversions, bonded labour and transgender rights. A large number of transgender persons including activists Shehzadi Rai, Mehrub Moiz Awan and Bindya Rana also participated in the march and took the stage to make participants aware about the issues faced by the trans community in the country, specifically after the recent wave of negative campaigning against the vulnerable community, according to Geo News. Dr Mehrub Awan, while talking to Geo News, said that the purpose of trans people's participation in the march is to show solidarity. "In a country torn by religious, ethnic, linguistic and sectarian divide, people coming out in solidarity with each other is a rare sight," Mehrub said. After the performances, the participants marched towards the Sindh Assembly via the Arts Council of Pakistan. The marchers then staged a short sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly where activists performed a small play highlighting the issue of rape in the country. A long piece of white cloth was also held by the protestors with signs of hands printed on it using red colour. The cloth was carried overhead by the marchers and burnt at the end of the march as a symbol of anger over the hardships faced by them in society.

Around 63,000 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported in Pakistan over the past three years, with some 4,000 being reported in the first half of 2020 when lockdowns were imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. This was revealed in a new report released by the National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) on Tuesday. The commission, while quoting numbers from the human rights ministry said 80 per cent of these cases were related to domestic violence, while some 47pc of domestic rape where married women experienced sexual abuse. The report cautioned that since the data was based on reported cases, the actual number could be much higher. The NCHR’s report termed “key contribution in leading the discourse” regarding intimate partner violence was shared with participants in a gathering at a hotel. Policy launched to combat domestic violence; calls for fresh laws, training of police to address issue The 57-page report was a policy brief to combat domestic violence against women in the hope of building legal frameworks to address systemic discrimination and patriarchal structures that contribute to gender-based violence. The ceremony was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, MNA Shazia Marri, Federal Shariat Court (FSC) Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar and Islamabad IG Akbar Nasir, among others. During their addresses, Senator Rehman and MNA Marri termed these cases the tip of the iceberg. Senator Rehman, who is also the Minister for Climate Change, said violence against women was a display of “power” and called such cases a “hidden pandemic” and “statistics of shame”. “The statistics are staggering — 90pc of women face some form of domestic violence in their lifetime, yet 50pc do not report it, and only 0.4pc of them go to courts,” she said. “Our society is layered with patriarchy, and it subjugates women through a series of institutional, social, and cultural norms that allow and normalise violence against women.” She said that in addition to legislation, the implementation of laws and changes at the societal level are equally important to address the root causes of domestic violence. A bill to end domestic violence was first introduced in 2004 but the legislation still has to see the light of day, Ms Rehman added. BISP Chairperson Shazia Marri said ‘be a man’ and similar phrases prevalent in society are an attempt to malign women. Ms Marri said a society which excludes women is restricting its economic as well as social growth. She also responded to criticism surrounding ‘Aurat March’ and quipped that there would be no need for such protests if “you provide safety to your women”. Better police, prosecutors, and judges The Islamabad police chief said there was a need to enhance the capacity of police to deal with cases of gender-based violence. In addition to establishing a special investigation unit that would probe offences against women and children, there was a need to hire and recruit able prosecutors as well as judges who are sensitised to this issue. FSC CJ Muhammad Anwar said Islam abhors violence against women and referred to Chapter 58 of the Holy Quran. “Domestic violence has nothing to do with Islam,” he reiterated. Inclusive society In her address, NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha said the commission through this document aimed to lay the groundwork for an inclusive society, where women are equally empowered. The status quo is rigged against women, forcing them to tolerate injustice and violence in silence, the speakers agreed. The report also drew a link betw­een education and women’s ability to report abuse or seek help against violence. “…women with a higher education are much more likely to seek help to end violence (46pc) than women with no education (25pc).” It said domestic violence is grounded in multiple social, cultural and religious factors, such as patriarchy, gender inequality, lack of awareness, economic dependence, religious beliefs, and social stigma. These factors are compounded by institutional hurdles that “women face in accessing justice and redress”. It claimed the cases of domestic violence are dismissed by police as a ‘private matter or ghar ki baat’ and mediation is encouraged despite abuse and relevant legislation. Unlike other provinces, domestic violence is not criminalised in Punjab, the report. The report also addressed the use of religion to oppose laws pertaining to such violence. It quoted a FSC judgement wherein the court said the “domestic violence legislation of Punjab is in line with Islamic injunctions and constitutional fundamental rights”. Recommendations The policy document called for a comprehensive approach to addressing domestic violence in society through the ICT Domestic Violence Bill, 2020, support to victims, awareness and promotion of education, sensitisation of the judiciary on gender issues as well as a redress mechanism for victims. The report also advocated training for law enforcers and health professionals, the inclusion of male allies in campaigns against domestic violence, and legal aid systems available to women at all levels.

Recent high-profile cases of women being killed in Jordan and Egypt for rejecting marriage proposals have sparked widespread anger about femicides and fueled a growing debate about women's rights and safety. Basma, who studies at Cairo’s Mansoura University, still hasn’t come to terms with the shock murder of a fellow student 10 days ago near the campus. I am still terrified and so far, I am not able to leave my home, the 27-year-old, who didn’t want to give her full name, fearing retribution, told DW. On June 20, 21-year-old Egyptian student Naira A. was killed by a man whose marriage proposal she rejected. CCTV footage and smartphone videos of at least a dozen witnesses show 27-year-old Mohamed A. stabbing Naira A. with a knife in broad daylight until bystanders intervened and detained him till the police arrived. The Mansoura Criminal Court found Mohamed A. guilty of premediated murder and sentenced him to death. The court has now referred the case to Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Egypt’s top theological authority, who is to give his legal opinion on the indicated death penalty in the next few days. Chances are high that the verdict will be confirmed, as Mohamed A. has already confessed to killing Naira A. for being rejected after a marriage proposal. The case has sparked an outpouring of anger across Egypt and on social media, with users demanding justice and decrying incidents of femicide in the Arab world. The killing also points to an upsurge in femicide and violence against women in Egypt. While the harassment of women in public places has received national attention in recent years, domestic abuse remains largely hidden from view and primarily untouched by policies and programs, Habiba Abdelaal, an expert on women’s rights, told DW. That is reinforced by a report by the Egyptian Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality from February this year. It states that Egypt has witnessed a notable rise in gender-based violence with 813 cases of violence against women and girls in 2021, compared to 415 in 2020. Violence is endemic, Violence against women is endemic in Egypt and the Middle East, Abdelaal said. For her, it is obvious that Naira’s killing was not an isolated incident and it won’t be the last, she added. And yet, the fact that Naira A.’s case is still in the spotlight after some ten days, is rare. The reason is another killing which took place three days later in Jordan. In a case that had chilling parallels, Jordanian nursing student Iman R. was shot dead at the University of Applied Sciences near the capital, Amman by a man who had wanted to marry her but was rejected. The only difference to the killing of Naira in Cairo was that Iman’s attacker managed to escape before he was tracked down and shot himself. As of now, more details remain in the dark as Jordanian authorities have issued a gag order on the case. Such crimes base on underestimating and bullying women, as well as the perception that men are always right, Ghada Saba, Jordanian filmmaker and human rights activist, told DW. That could be one of the reasons why these two cases of femicide have stirred up an increasingly heated debate on social media about women’s rights and their freedom to choose or reject a potential partner. Safety is an essential right. The social conversation proves that we are not only lacking enforcement of laws and policies, but we are also facing a society that constantly blames the victim, especially if that victim is a woman, and that can be seen from people’s comments on Naira’s murder, Abdelaal told DW. Lawyer and founder of the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, Azza Soliman agrees. It has become obvious that the public is increasingly defaming women, she told DW. In turn, she fears that violence against women could be soon considered normal. However, for Egyptian women’s activist Lobna Darwish, the recent murders and the ongoing debates are a wake-up call. For her, it is clear that if Egypt doesn’t address violence against women soon, we will not be able to spread the social message saying that women’s protection from violence and the right to live in safety is an essential right, is a basic right that cannot be threatened outside or inside their home, Darwish told DW. In Naira A.’s case, for example, Darwish said that the family had thrice tried to obtain a restraining order against the man who would go on to kill her. So, she went through the legal steps, she went to the police station, filed the report that was supposed to get a restraining order, but it did not take place, Darwish said, adding that it’s very sad that we have to get to the point where we see a live video of a woman being killed in midday on the street before things change. Meanwhile, women’s activists across the Middle East have called for a transregional strike on July 6 in response to the latest murders. For now, Basma, the student in Cairo remains deeply worried about returning to university. We could see the same scene repeated, and every girl who rejects a man will fear that she may be killed like Naira, she said.

As Indian Supreme Court cleared the paths for women in the National Defence Academy (NDA), now there are 30 per cent women candidates for the prestigious institution that trains cadets to be officers in the national defence sector. This information was given by the Ministry of Defence in Parliament on Monday. The cadets recruiting exam, which has been opened for women for the first time, has one woman for every third applicant.  As defence ministry said,“ 5,75,856 candidates applied for this year and Among them, 1,77,654 are women. Necessary infrastructure and other facilities for training of female candidates are in place. The information was given by minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Dr Amar Patnaik in Rajya Sabha.   Moreover The reply stated there was no restriction on the number of women candidates, who could apply for 2021 National Defence Academy examination. "Medical standards and obligations have been notified in the UPSC notification. Physical standards will be finalised before commencement of training," the reply added.   In September this year, Supreme Court said there should be no suspension in permitting women aspirants to seat for the exam as Centre wanted more time to make arrangements and the Ministry of Defence said it would put in place a mechanism by May 2022. Entry to NDA would also pave the way for women getting permanent commission as their male counterparts who graduate from the institution. The Indian Army has granted permanent commission to 577 women officers since February 2020 after the Supreme Court verdict on the subject that also made women officers eligible for commanding their units. Permanent commission to more women officers will also pave the way for women playing larger roles in the army and also hold commanding  post. Earlier, the government defended granting permanent commission to women officers mentioning some bizaare reasons like poor hygiene in rural areas to motherhood and child care, leading a life of isolation and troops from rural backgrounds unwilling to accept women officers as commanders to the Supreme Court and later the apex court denied all the reasons government placed. Granting permanent commission to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) women officers is allowed in streams like Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps in addition to the existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC). But Women officers still cannot serve in infantry, artillery and armoured corps—combat wings deployed at the most forward locations facing the advesary. The army has also improved its policy on issues like training, physical endurance and postings and service courses to bring about equilibrium in service conditions for male and female officers after the Supreme Court verdict. Women entrance in the Army till now has only been through Short Service Commission (SSC) and a majority could not serve beyond 14 years, however there were some who continued on extensions but were still not given permanent commission. Source: India Today.  

Stating that the promises made by the global leaders in the fourth world conference on women in Beijing in 1995 are yet to be fulfilled while the participation of women parliamentarians is 25 percent and in workforce less than 31 percent, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that bold policy measures and concerted actions could reverse the situation. “At Beijing in 1995, the world community made bold commitments for women empowerment. Many of those promises, unfortunately, remain unfulfilled,” she said while addressing an event of the Generation Equality Forum: Paris 2021. In a recorded statement aired in the event held under the title “Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality” Action Coalition, the Prime Minister also said that globally, women’s participation in politics, economy and labour force is not encouraging. She added: “Today, only 25% of parliamentarians are women, while women participation in the labour force is still 31% less than men. We must reverse this situation through bold policy measures and concerted actions.” Noting that women’s empowerment has been a priority of her government, the premier said her government’s “Digital Bangladesh Vision” has meaningfully integrated women in the IT (Information Technology) sector. She said that they have launched various practical projects aimed at creating women IT professionals and efficient entrepreneurs. Bangladesh is also using many digital apps in addressing violence against women, Sheikh Hasina said, “In the last three years, over 71,000 girls received cyber awareness training leading to their enhanced safety on cyber platforms.” The Prime Minister, in continuation to her earlier pledge at the 25th anniversary event of the Beijing Conference, promised this time to increase women’s participation in ICT (Information Communication Technology) sector, including tech start-ups and e-commerce sector to 25 percent by 2026 and 50 percent by 2041. The Generation Equality Forum is taking place across two events from June 30 to July 2 that kicked off in Mexico City and will finish in Paris. The Generation Equality Forum is a global movement for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France. The Forum brings together governments, corporations, NGOs, youth-led groups and Foundations to secure concrete, ambitious, and transformative commitments for gender equality. These are shaped by the Action Coalitions. They are the world’s roadmap for gender equality. Source: BSS AH