Govt scrutinising 42 laws to make them women friendly

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) The government is scrutinising 42 laws, either specifically relating to women or containing provisions affecting them, to make them more women friendly and has amended six laws and enacted two new laws.

In a 'Report to the People 2004-07' on Women and Child Development, released by Prime Minister Manmohan singh earlier this week, it was revealed that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to monitor the status of amendments to laws for making them more women-friendly. The Government has also issued executive orders in respect of five statues.

Moreover, a Bill for compulsory registration of marriages is being actively considered while amendments to the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 are being introduced to make the provisions of the Act more stringent, deterrent and effective and help re-orient the existing perception of the woman attempting to commit sati as an offender and, instead, treat her as a victim of prolonged social conditioning.

Through coming into force of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, more effective protection has been provided to women victims of violence of any kind occurring within a family. The Act enables women to negotiate non-abusive and non-violent relationship under civil provisions which was earlier only available in the criminal law regime. The Hindu Succession Act, 1955 has been amended to make Hindu women's inheritance rights in coparcenary property equal to men's across states, overriding any inconsistent state laws.

Amendments have also been passed by Parliament prohibiting arrest of women after sunset and before sunrise, medical examination of persons accused of committing or attempting to commit rape and mandatory judicial inquiry in case of rape while in police custody, the report said.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill is being finanalised. Steps are being initiated to eliminate female foeticide. To provide flexibility in the matter of employment of women during night while requiring the employer to ensure measures for safety and protection, the Government has introduced a Bill in Parliament to amend the Factories Act, 1948.

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