The recently released State of the World Population 2020 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has brought to light alarming statistics about ongoing human rights violations against women. Titled ‘Against my will: defying the practices that harm women and girls and undermine equality’, the report highlights at least 19 different forms of violations, with a focus on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), bias against daughters in favor of sons, and child marriage.
Global Data On Women’s Rights Violations
In the last half century, the number of missing women has more than doubled from 61 million in 1970. These missing women—in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan—represent females who are absent from the population due to discriminatory practices like postnatal and prenatal sex selection.
Every year, there are 1.2 million missing female births globally, according to estimates for the period between 2013 and 2017.
Sex Discrimination In India
In India, discrimination seems particularly acute. One out of every three girls missing globally due to sex selection, both pre- and post-natal, is from India. That’s a staggering 46 million out of the total 142 million.
India records the highest rate of excess female deaths at 13.5 per 1,000 female births, equivalent to one in nine deaths of females below the age of five, due to postnatal sex selection.
Between 2013 and 2017, nearly 460,000 Indian girls went missing each year at birth due to sex-selection biases. Together with China, India accounts for around 90% of the estimated 1.2 million girls lost annually to female foeticide.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation involves the removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice carries no health benefits and can result in severe complications such as bleeding, urination problems, cysts, infections, childbirth complications, and increased risk of newborn deaths. In 2020 alone, an estimated 4.1 million girls will undergo female genital mutilation.
Daughters Vs Sons: The Persistent Bias
In certain countries, there’s a persistent preference for sons over daughters that fuels extreme neglect of girls, often leading to their deaths during childhood. Technological advancements like ultrasound imaging increase parents’ ability to terminate pregnancies based on gender, leading to an imbalance in population proportions and subsequent issues, like the ‘marriage squeeze’, where prospective grooms far outnumber prospective brides. This imbalance promotes practices such as human trafficking for marriage and child marriages, which restrict women’s choices and infringe upon their human rights.
Child Marriage
Every day, around 33,000 girls under age 18 are forced into marriages, typically with significantly older men. In India, child marriage is particularly linked to poverty, poor education, and geographic location.
Impact of Covid-19 On Women’s Rights
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought further challenges to women’s rights. Economic disruptions and income loss have increased violence against women and girls due to intensified gender discrimination. The pandemic also threatens to reverse progress made in ending harmful practices.
In India, reduced access to contraception and abortion services during the Covid-19 crisis could lead to more unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
Appreciated Initiatives and Interventions
The report commends successful education-related interventions like providing cash transfers conditional on school attendance or assistance to cover costs of school fees, books, uniforms, and supplies. It particularly praises India’s cash-transfer program called ‘Apni Beti Apna Dhan’.
About the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The UNFPA, a subsidiary of the UN General Assembly, operates as a sexual and reproductive health agency. Established in 1967, it works towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals on health, education, and gender equality.
The Way Forward
To tackle these gender-based violations, root causes must be addressed—particularly gender-biased norms and practices. Respect for women and girls needs to be fostered, while laws against harmful practices like child marriage and female mutilation should be enforced. Governments, as per their obligations under human rights treaties, must work towards the complete elimination of these practices.
