Women groups release 'womanifesto' for political parties

New Delhi, March 9: Civil society representatives and autonomous women's movement members have asked political parties to take up the cause of women's empowerment in their manifestos for the Lok Sabha polls.

They released a six-point "womanifesto" on issues like freedom, safety and empowerment of women in the country and urged the parties to address them.

The groups sought a comprehensive, well-funded and long- term public education programme to end gender-based discrimination and violence against women.

They said every government agency should produce detailed action plan to implement laws to end violence against women, and political parties should fund it.

Parties and state governments were also urged to provide comprehensive services to victims of violent crimes, and set up 24-hour crisis centres and safe shelters in each police district, and to provide swift financial compensation.

The "womanifesto" also asked parties to support the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha and ensure that women are represented in all councils, committees and task forces related to policy and practice across the board.

Further, they should support adoption of a code of conduct to disqualify electoral candidates who have committed offences of gender-related violence and end misogynist comments and behaviour in the Lok Sabha, it said. It also asked parties to create rape crisis response teams, with both rural and urban pilot projects.

PTI