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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The 141st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee concluded last Friday, 26 July 2024. The Centre submitted and presented a report on the list of issues for the State of India, highlighting the fragile situation in the ability for Indians to participate in the public affairs process. Read our report to the Committee here, pertaining to questions 10 & 30 under the list of issues.
The Centre is pleased to see that the Committee adopted the recommendations presented during the formal briefings at Palais Wilson in Geneva.
Assistant Director of Public Policy, Ms. Antonia GOUVIS, argued that India’s lack of female representation in Parliament is perpetuated by a lack in civics education, intersecting the issues of gender inequality, education and participation in the public affairs process.
With women holding only 14% of Parliament seats and given the Centre's commitment in utilising civics education as a method for representation and gradual change, the Centre urged the Committee to press the Indian government for increased civics education initiatives. The Centre views human rights issues in the thematic focus of civic empowerment, and firmly upholds early education as a catalyst for future prosperity.
Per the Centre’s recommendations, the Committee ordered the State of India to “take more robust measures to guarantee de iure and de facto equality between men and women”. The Committee also ordered India to “strengthen its efforts to increase the representation of women in all spheres of society, including in decision-making positions”.
Finally, the Committee requested India to “consider amending the Women Reservation Act to increase to 50% the reserved seats for women, speed up its implementation, and take the necessary measures to increase the presence of women in politics, including by enhancing civic education for young girls and women.”
Ms. Hélène TIGROUDJA, Independent Committee Member from France, took particular interest in the Centre’s submission and worked closely with Assistant Director Ms. Antonia GOUVIS in strategising solutions for the lack of empowerment of young girls. Thanks to the Centre’s efforts, civics education was presented as a feasible solution to the issues faced.
The idea of civics education being at the centre of ensuring a more empowered tomorrow is a core belief of the Centre. We are grateful to have the opportunity to engage with the Committee to share our perspective and hopes the State party will execute these orders before its next periodic report. Learn more about our dialogue with the Committee here. Read the Committee’s concluding observations here.