'Political parties not focusing enough on women's safety'

Political parties are not focusing enough on issues concerning women's safety according to participants at a conference held here today to raise awareness on issue of sexual violence.

"At various economic events globally, the discussion often begins with status of women in our country, courtesy the high amount of attention the December 16 gang rape case got worldwide. It is a matter of shame that we have done so little for our women," corporate honcho Naina Lal Kidwai said.

She was speaking at a two-day conference on "Igniting Leadership To End Sexual Violence".

Naina, described the mass awakening in the wake of the Delhi gang rape as a "watershed development and one should not let go of this moment".
 

"Women must enter the work space. Putting an end to sexual violence essentially means putting an end to the cycle of dependency. By being financially dependent, a lot of the vices that emerge from the vicious cycle of poverty and abuse can be curbed," she said.

Convened by the Ananta Centre and EmancipAction, the conference discussed issues like 'Men's attitude toward women in India', 'Acess to education', 'Economic opportunities', 'Arts and media' and 'Law and how it is implemented' ; by roping in personalities from different spheres of life, in its workshop.

Labeling women empowerment as a "right" and not "asking for protection," Karuna Nundy, advocate, Supreme Court of India, hit out at the habit of patriarchy running deep in the Indian society.

"The habit of patriarchy runs deep in our society. If you look at the number of women candidates standing for elections in our country; and the spirit and space allotted to women issues in the manifestos of our major political parties; you would know how seriously we are taken. We do not want your protection, we want our rights," she said.

An active voice that shaped the debate for the new anti-rape law, the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2013, Nundy underlined the tenets of 'Educate for equality', 'Make laws count', 'Put women in power' among others in 'Womanifesto', a document, which addressed women issues.

"If governance rolled back HIV AIDS and polio; then it can also enforce women empowerment. What is lacking here is the will and determination," the advocate said.

The conference also saw stakeholders from various public spheres share startling facts about women empowerment.

"We found out that there are two crucial factors that provide confidence to women. Women feel empowered when they have a job and own a piece of land. But simply having a job is no factor; a job that provides women higher earnings should be the focus to emancipate women," Aparna Mathur, a scholar said.