Women in India: how free? how equal?

This document is an independent, analytical report commissioned by the UNand is among the first UNDAF initiatives of the UN Family. The report aims to bring issues of women’s freedom and gender equality more centrally into the arena of public debate and to make these the concerns of every citizen.

The report finds that although women have far greater visibility and voice than they did 50 years ago, there are still many measures to be taken to ensure women have a better chance of equal participation in the country’s social, political and economic spheres. The paper concludes by making a series of recommendations, includingthe following:

Women’s access to basic social services must be increased
Women leaders at every level must be supported to build their capacities to function effectively and advance women’s interests
The media must that enough space is given to serious women’s issues and portrayals of women must reflect the values of gender equality rather than market
Daughters must be given opportunities to develop their decision- making and leadership capacities, and sons must be taught to respect their sisters as equals
The movement for gender equality must move from being an exclusive concern of women, to being a people’s issue
Equality and respect for rights must become values that guide and shape personal relations between women and men of all ages, beliefs and backgrounds

Publisher: India Office, United Nations
Year of Publication: 2001