{"id":38692,"date":"2025-03-07T19:08:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T13:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=38692"},"modified":"2025-03-08T11:45:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T06:15:45","slug":"beijing-declaration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/07-03-2025\/beijing-declaration","title":{"rendered":"Beyond \u2018Beijing Declaration\u2019: Unlocking a Feminist Future in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Issues Related To Women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nearly <strong>three decades <\/strong>after the adoption of <strong>Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995),<\/strong> the struggle for women\u2019s rights in India remains complex and multifaceted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was adopted at the <strong>Fourth World Conference on Women (United Nations) in 1995<\/strong>, to provide a <strong>comprehensive framework for gender equality.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It identified <strong>12 critical areas of concern<\/strong>, including poverty, education, health, violence against women, and women&#8217;s participation in power and decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dfe2e6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"932\" height=\"561\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/about-beijig-declaration-and-platform-for-action.png\" alt=\"about beijig declaration and platform for action\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-38694\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dfe2e6; width:474px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/about-beijig-declaration-and-platform-for-action.png 932w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/about-beijig-declaration-and-platform-for-action-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/about-beijig-declaration-and-platform-for-action-768x462.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It emphasized women\u2019s rights as human rights, advocating for reforms in education, political participation, economic empowerment, health, and protection from violence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other International Treaties Where India is a Signatory:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India is a signatory <\/strong>to all above treaties, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>International Women Day<\/strong><br>&#8211; Celebrated on 8 March&nbsp;<br>&#8211; Originated from the Labour Movement in the early 20th century to advocate for women\u2019s rights.<br>&#8211; <strong>Theme (2025):<\/strong> For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment<br>&#8211; <strong>Objective:<\/strong><br>1. To celebrate the achievements and contributions of women and raise awareness about gender equality and persisting challenges faced by women.<br><strong>National Women Day<\/strong><br>&#8211; Celebrated on 13 February<br>&#8211; To commemorate the <strong>birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu<\/strong>, a renowned political leader, poet, and champion of women&#8217;s rights.<br><strong>Objective:<\/strong><br>1. To recognize the diverse struggles and dreams of women, promoting gender equality and leadership<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Constitutional and Legal Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fundamental Rights:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Article 14:<\/strong> It ensures equality before the law;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Article 15:<\/strong> It prohibits discrimination based on sex.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Directive Principles of State Policy<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Article 51(a)(e):<\/strong> It encourages citizens to renounce practices derogatory to women\u2019s dignity.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Articles 39 and 42:<\/strong> These emphasize equal livelihood opportunities, equal pay, and maternity relief.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s Progress Since Beijing Declaration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improved Maternal Health:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) <\/strong>decreased from 43 (2015) to 32 (2020).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Life expectancy for women<\/strong> increased to 71.4 years (2016-20), expected to reach 74.7 years by 2031-36.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebebeb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Indias-Progress-Since-Beijing-Declaration.png\" alt=\"India's Progress Since Beijing Declaration\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-38695\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebebeb; width:450px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Indias-Progress-Since-Beijing-Declaration.png 798w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Indias-Progress-Since-Beijing-Declaration-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Indias-Progress-Since-Beijing-Declaration-768x421.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nutrition and Sanitation:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission<\/strong> provided potable tap water to 15.4 crore households, reducing health risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission<\/strong>: Construction of 11.8 crore toilets, improving sanitation and hygiene.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Poshan Abhiyaan: <\/strong>Strengthens maternal and child nutrition programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ujjwala Yojana: <\/strong>Over 10.3 crore clean cooking gas connections distributed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education:<\/strong> The <strong>&#8216;Beti Bachao Beti Padhao&#8217;<\/strong> initiative has improved the child sex ratio and increased school enrollments for girls.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>National Education Policy 2020<\/strong> has further paved the way for higher retention rates and opportunities in STEM fields.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Female Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) has overtaken Male GER since 2017-18.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Female enrolment in higher education: 2.07 crore (2021-22), which is nearly 50% of the total number 4.33 crore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The female to 100 male faculty ratio has also improved to 77 in 2021-22 from 63 in 2014-15.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Women in STEM:<\/strong> 42.57% (41.9 lakh) of total STEM enrolment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e7e7e7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"312\" height=\"269\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/government-initiatives-related-to-education.png\" alt=\"government-initiatives-related-to-education\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-38696\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e7e7e7; width:340px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/government-initiatives-related-to-education.png 312w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/government-initiatives-related-to-education-300x259.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s participation in major household decisions:<\/strong> Increased from 84% (2015) to 88.7% (2020).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Inclusion:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PM Jan Dhan Yojana: <\/strong>Over 30.46 crore accounts (55% belonging to women) opened.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stand-Up India Scheme: <\/strong>84% of loans under \u20b910 lakh to \u20b91 crore sanctioned to women entrepreneurs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MUDRA Scheme:<\/strong> 69% of microloans given to women-led enterprises.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-Help Groups under NRLM:<\/strong> 10 crore (100 million) women connected to 9 million SHGs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bank Sakhis Model:<\/strong> 6,094 women banking correspondents processed transactions worth $40 million in 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employment and Leadership:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Women in Armed Forces:<\/strong> Entry into NDA, combat roles, and Sainik Schools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Civil Aviation:<\/strong> India has over 15% women pilots, higher than the global average of 5%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Working Women\u2019s Hostels (Sakhi Niwas):<\/strong> 523 hostels benefiting 26,306 women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Women Entrepreneurs in Startups: <\/strong>10% of funds in the <strong>Small Industries Development Bank of India<\/strong> reserved for women-led startups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender Responsive Budgeting: <\/strong>The share of the <strong>Gender Budget<\/strong> in the total national Budget has increased from <strong>6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26<\/strong>; $55.2 billion is allocated toward <strong>gender-specific programmes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Digital and Technological Empowerment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital India Initiatives:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PMGDISHA (Prime Minister\u2019s Digital Saksharta Abhiyan):<\/strong> 60 million rural citizens trained in digital literacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Common Service Centres (CSCs):<\/strong> 67,000 women entrepreneurs running digital service centers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):<\/strong> Bridging healthcare accessibility through digital solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SANKALP Hubs for Women Empowerment:<\/strong> Functioning in 742 districts across 35 States\/UTs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Political Representation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments<\/strong> mandated <strong>33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions<\/strong> (local self-governance bodies), significantly increasing their participation at the grassroots level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The recent <strong>Women&#8217;s Reservation Bill (2023)<\/strong> aims <strong>to reserve 33% of seats<\/strong> for women in the <strong>Lok Sabha and state legislatures.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>Safety and Protection Measures<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Key Legal Frameworks<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Institutional and Legislative Reforms<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&#8211; Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018<br>&#8211; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005<br>&#8211; Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013<br>&#8211; POCSO Act, 2012<br>&#8211; Ban on Triple Talaq (2019)<br>&#8211; Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961<br>&#8211; Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006<\/td><td>&#8211; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:<br>1. Strengthens provisions for gender justice.<br>2. Enhanced punishment for sexual offenses and trafficking.<br>3. Witness protection and digital evidence admissibility improved.<br>&#8211; <strong>Women\u2019s representation in CAPFs:<\/strong> 33% reservation in select forces.<br>&#8211; <strong>Nari Adalat:<\/strong> Piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and J&amp;K, now expanding.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e6e9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"786\" height=\"546\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/international-initiatives.png\" alt=\"international-initiatives\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-38697\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e6e9; width:532px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/international-initiatives.png 786w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/international-initiatives-300x208.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/international-initiatives-768x533.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges Hindering a Feminist Future in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Workforce Participation and Economic Barriers: <\/strong>India has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates (FLFP) globally, at around 24% (World Bank, 2022). Women face multiple barriers, including:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unpaid care work burden<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of workplace safety and maternity benefits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender pay gap and informal sector exploitation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep-Rooted Patriarchy and Cultural Barriers:<\/strong> Despite progressive laws, patriarchy remains embedded in Indian society.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gender roles, honor-based restrictions, and moral policing continue to limit women\u2019s autonomy in both rural and urban spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Urban-Rural Divide in Feminist Narratives:<\/strong> Feminism in India often remains urban-centric, sidelining the struggles of Dalit, Adivasi, and rural women whose issues differ significantly from those of privileged women.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Land rights, access to education, and economic independence are still distant dreams for many.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Inequality and Unpaid Labor:<\/strong> Women contribute significantly to India\u2019s informal economy, yet gender pay gaps and unpaid care work remain largely unaddressed.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The burden of domestic labor continues to reinforce economic dependence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rise of Digital Misogyny:<\/strong> With the increasing penetration of digital platforms, online harassment and gendered cyber violence have emerged as new-age challenges that restrict women&#8217;s participation in digital spaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-03-2025\/women-panchayat-members-in-india-challenges\"><strong>Political Representation<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> While women\u2019s political participation has increased, representation is often symbolic rather than substantive.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Women in governance are still outnumbered and face structural barriers in decision-making roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Unlocking a Feminist Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Centering Intersectional Feminism:<\/strong> India\u2019s feminist future must be inclusive of caste, class, religion, and disability-based discrimination.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Policies must be designed not just for elite women but for the most marginalized groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthening Grassroots Movements:<\/strong> Empowering rural and tribal women\u2019s collectives, such as the <strong>Self-Employed Women\u2019s Association (SEWA)<\/strong>, can ensure that gender justice is community-driven rather than top-down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recognizing and Redistributing Unpaid Labor:<\/strong> Legislative frameworks should account for unpaid domestic labor by recognizing women\u2019s economic contributions through policies such as universal basic income or care economy investments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Combating Digital Gender-Based Violence: <\/strong>Stronger cyber laws, digital literacy programs, and accountability for online platforms are needed to make digital spaces safer for women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Beyond Quotas: Meaningful Political Participation: <\/strong>Women\u2019s reservation in Parliament must go beyond numbers, ensuring women in leadership roles actively shape policy agendas.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Initiatives for mentorship and capacity building can enhance their political agency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Critically analyze India&#8217;s progress in advancing gender equality since the Beijing Declaration. What challenges persist in achieving a feminist future, and what innovative measures and societal changes are required to address these gaps effectively?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/beyond-beijing-unlocking-a-feminist-future-in-india\/article69299775.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-7-March-2025.pdf.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly three decades after the adoption of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), the struggle for women\u2019s rights in India remains complex and multifaceted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38692"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38759,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38692\/revisions\/38759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}