Lawmakers in the Lok Sabha have approved reform to Indian abortion law proposed by the Centre, which could expand access to abortion in the country. Parliamentarians in the lower house of the Indian Parliament approved by voice vote the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy […]
women's rights
Amrit Kaur: Woman of the Year
Indian social activist Amrit Kaur has been named ‘Woman of the Year’ by Time magazine for 1947 – the year she became the first person to assume charge of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Ahead of International Women’s Day, observed on Sunday, Time magazine unveiled its pick for ‘Woman of the Year’ […]
Women and girls left behind in the fight on HIV/AIDS
The world – including India – has made progress in reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS. Whilst continuing to have a sizeable footprint, the gains made are undeniable. However, in the quest to end HIV/AIDS as a public health menace, are women and girls being left behind? A new report by the Joint United Nations Programme […]
International Women’s Day: A reminder of India’s gender imbalance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi garnered publicity with a high-profile announcement that, in honour of International Women’s Day (observed today) this year, he “will give away [his] social media accounts to women whose life and work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions.” Giving visibility to women, their perspectives and their issues is […]
Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, explained
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020 – one the Government has billed as “historic” – has won the approval of the Union Cabinet in a significant overture towards regulation of the assisted reproductive technology sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet meeting where the Bill secured the approval of ministers. The legislation outlines […]
Stalking: A hidden crisis of sexual harassment?
“I saw a woman burning in the street,” Vijay Kukade told BBC Marathi. He was recalling a gruesome incident, in which a woman on her way to the college where she lectured was attacked and set alight by a man whom her family said had been stalking her for some time. Tragically, the woman lost […]
Surrogacy law: Key changes suggested
The controversy surrounding a commercial surrogacy law could be ameliorated, at least in part. A parliamentary panel has recommended a number of critical alterations to the legislation – including loosening the restrictions on who can be a surrogate mother. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill was introduced last year, in a bid to clamp down on commercial […]
Female genital mutilation: A menace the world must overcome
Female genital mutilation is a global menace. “Recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women” and “[reflecting] deep-rooted inequality between the sexes” in the words of the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a practice that demands zero tolerance and maximum accountability – including in India, where it often takes […]
Abortion law reform on the cards?
The Union Cabinet has approved extending the timeframe in which a woman can avail an abortion to 24 weeks, in what has been described as a “progressive reform”, compared to the current upper limit of twenty weeks at present. This move marks a significant step towards abortion reform law. The approval of the Medical Termination […]
Abortions: 61 lakh in five years, but issues remain
India recorded 61 lakh abortions in the five years since the 2014-15 period, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Choubey informed lawmakers last week. Giving a written reply to a question posed in the Lok Sabha, Choubey said that the Government was taking steps to ensure access to safe abortions in the […]