Ensure safety of women, NHRC asks states

Concerned over recent crimes against women, the NHRC Friday asked all state governments to adopt measures ranging from constructing toilets to increasing women's security.

Taking a dim view of the fact that women are forced to defecate in the open due to absence of toilets in their homes, which makes them vulnerable to crime, the National Human Rights Commission asked all the stakeholders to ensure "toilet facilities for each household".

According to the National Sample Survey Office, 60 percent rural population has no access to toilets.

Two cousin sisters were gang raped, murdered and found hanging from a tree in Katra Sadatganj village of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh after they went missing May 27 when they went out to relieve themselves after dusk.

"Wherever and in whatever number these incidents have happened, the commission deplores all such acts, which have a direct bearing on human rights, including right to life, dignity and liberty," it said.

The commission asked the central and the state governments to take "immediate steps" to introduce topics and subjects of gender sensitivity in school curriculum.

"Some incidents have come to the notice of the commission wherein women have been raped/molested/maltreated to demonstrate dominance of one caste/class over the other. The commission strongly condemns such incidents," the statement added.

The commission urges all state governments to ensure security and safety of women and to immediately work towards creation of a social environment in which women are accorded due respect," it added.