New Delhi, Sep 20 : President Droupadi Murmu, addressing a gathering at the biennial conference of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of Asia Pacific held at Vigyan Bhawan, hailed the recent introduction of a bill providing 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the most “transformative revolution in our times” for gender justice.
The women’s reservation bill made history as the inaugural legislation in the new Parliament building on Tuesday.
Murmu emphasized, “We have ensured a minimum of 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies’ elections… In a more delightful coincidence, a proposal to provide a similar reservation for women in state assemblies and the national Parliament is now taking shape. It will be the most transformative revolution in our times for gender justice.”
The event, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Forum (APF), is scheduled from September 20-21. The conference will address human rights-related issues and concerns.
Amina Bouayach, Secretary of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Doo-Hwan Song, Chairperson of APF, and NHRC Chairperson Justice (Retd) Arun Kumar Mishra also graced the occasion with their presence.
On Wednesday, the APF held its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) to discuss matters of common interest among member countries. The conference has attracted more than 1,300 delegates from India and around the world, including heads, members, and senior officials of various countries’ NHRIs, representatives from Union and state governments, state human rights commissions, special rapporteurs, monitors, and various institutions dedicated to safeguarding and promoting human rights in the nation.
