Role Of Human Rights In Women's Empowerment

Abstract: Women are entitled to enjoy the equal human rights and fundamental freedoms as other as individuals. The Charter of the United Nations guarantees the equal rights of women and men. Almost all countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). India is also signatory of this Convention. Women and girls rights are human rights. They cover every aspect of life, health, education, political participation, economic well-being and freedom from violence, among many others. Women and girls are entitled to the full and the same enjoyment of all of their human rights. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar drafted the Constitution of India and guaranteed the Fundamental Rights to citizen and non citizens. The guarantee of life, liberty, freedoms is an assurance of protection of human rights of the citizen. The Constitution of India confers equal rights and duties upon the citizens. The special provisions for empowerment and upliftment of the women as enshrined under the Constitution are required to be taken into account in the light of settled legal proposition. Article 14 states equality before law and equal protection of the law. Article 15 (3) of the Constitution speak to enact the special laws for the welfare of women and children. Article 15(1) also says that there shall not be discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, place of birth and sex. Article 15 prevents gender bias. Article 21 speaks about the Right to life; it is a guarantee of dignified life. Though the Law conferred equal status on women but there are many hurdles for its implementation. In the present scenario, the world witnesses the violence, crimes, and atrocities in a various forms against women. The many forms of violence directed explicitly toward women and girls deny them their rights and all too often their lives. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) adopted in the year 1979 by the General Assembly. The CEDAW Convention has been instrumental in shaping the legal and policy framework and furthering the international agenda on the human rights of women. It has been an inspiration for women in all parts of the world and has been responsible for significant change at the country level