Beijing+20 Review Conference: Maneka Gandhi reaffirms commitment towards gender empowerment

Over 50 countries met in Bangkok, Thailand, this week to review progress and renew pledges to fight for gender equality, 19 years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in 1995.

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to life, liberty and security of person. These basic rights are often not availed by women in many parts of the world. The declaration aimed to address the issues and review progress.

Meneka Gandhi at the "Asia and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Beijing+20 Review” re-affirmed India's commitment to gender equality, empowerment of women and eradication of poverty among. At the event, she said, "If the ability to multi-task and bear suffering is a qualification, then we are the stronger sex."

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The Union Minister for women and child development also expresses her happiness to see ample participation from NGOs in India, the government however, did not garner any appreciation in return. The NGOs were highly disappointed as the government, according to them, failed to address the issue of impunity and the current state of women and instead concentrated on glorifying campaigns like the Swachh Bharat Abhyaan.

In spite of the reasonable criticism, her speech at the conference was well received. The Union minister called herself a representative of the women who have been at the receiving end of gender inequality and who are now ready to fight for their rights. She added the importance of being financially independent in order to be treated equally.