'Ensure gender equality to curb crimes against women'

NGOs and political leaders cutting across party lines Thursday urged people to ensure gender equality and sensitisation in their homes to provide a safe environment to the country's women.

Participating in a conference on the issue of women safety in India organized at the American Centre in collaboration with NGO Honour Our Women (HOW), the panellists agreed that discrimination against the girl child must stop.

"The increasing rate of crime against women has necessitated the need to stop discriminating against children on the basis of their gender. There should be equality for all," Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) parliamentarian Supriya Sule said.

While Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirron Kher agreed with Sule, she also stressed on the need for curbing female foeticide through the implementation of strict laws.

The panellists also said that social evils like dowry should be dealt with the utmost strictness.