WUNRN
India - Gender-Biased Sex Selection an Extreme Form & Manifestation of Gender Discrimination & Inequality against Women, Say UN Women & UNFPA
Study
on History, Debates and Future Directions of Gender Biased Sex Selection
launched
“Gender-biased sex
selection is first and foremost a reflection of how little our society values
girls and women. The sharply declining child sex ratio in
The study
maps existing evidence on gender biased sex selection in the Indian context,
weaving in significant social debates and policy developments, and the way
forward on action. It
offers practical suggestions to advance research and understanding on the
subject by focusing on different areas such as family and household, education,
labour and employment, and on institutions that directly or indirectly aid or
fight the practice of sex selection.
“This report provides
a road map for what has a widely researched topic and includes study on several
pertinent topics such as the emergence of female infanticide from the
mid-nineteenth century, the discovery of declining sex ratios in the 1960s and
1970s through the use of census data, history of relevant legislation and
policy and a critique of its implementation, an interesting viewpoint on the
extent to which dowry is a cause for the practice of sex selection and,
finally, a look at different perspectives for research, namely culture,
violence and political economy,” says Dr. Rebecca Tavares, Representative, UN
Women Multi Country Office for India, Bhutan, Maldives & Sri Lanka.
The study
forms part of a component of the UN’s joint work on Sex Selection. This joint group is made up of UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF,
UNDP, WHO and the UNRCO and endeavours to support the UN’s work on preventing
and reducing Sex Selection.
“
The report
also provides a brief overview of the sociological and ethnographical areas of
study, including the role of civil society and the state, and changing familial
patterns. Unequal inheritance rights, dowry, unequal
socio-religious status, unpaid work, unequal pay, lack of economic opportunities
for women, focus on male lineage, a culture of honour that places a greater
burden of safety and protection on the parents of girls – all contribute to
building a society that favours sons and men, and neglects daughters and women.
“The government and the
civil society must go beyond policy-making and must quickly identify specific
behaviours, cultural attributes, practices, media representations, mind-sets,
and notions that propagate discrimination against daughters and, consequently,
help sex-determination testing flourish despite its illegality. While we are
witnessing a rapidly changing Indian society with modern and egalitarian values
finding their way into the traditional and conservative family systems, the
numbers, however, prove otherwise. A wider mindset change is crucial if we are
to indeed save and empower our daughters,” adds Ms. Puri.
“The Government’s commitment to gender empowerment is evident – from Prime Minister Modi’s speeches confirming zero tolerance for violence against women to the very substantial funds that are being allocated for schemes. When it comes to gender biased sex selection, however, entire social structures including those linked to work, marriage and community need to change and the root causes of son preference, acknowledged and fought,” concludes Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in India.
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