An Overview of Women Empowerment in India and Africa

Abstract

Women’s empowerment and gender equality concepts are important in fostering heal and human development. Empowerment describes the process of change wherein an individual and prior inability to choose has the access and freedom to make choices. Gender equality is achieved when both men and women enjoy the same socio-economic rights and opportunities and have equal access to education, heal care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes. Gender equality can be effectively achieved through empowerment, comprising three broad categories, namely agency, resources, achievements, etc. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic at domestic or social levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence, institutions and mechanisms/schemes for assistance will be created and strengthened for prevention of such violence, including sexual harassment at work place and customs like dowry. For rehabilitation of victims of violence and for taking effective action against the perpetrators of such violence and for taking effective actions against the perpetrators of such violence. A special emphasis will also be laid on programmes and measure to deal with trafficking in women and girls.