Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
India

India, US can partner to promote women's rights: US

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Nov, 2014 10:51 AM
    Based on their "shared values", India and the United States can be partners in promoting women's rights around the world, United States Under-Secretary for Human Rights Sarah Sewall said Thursday.
     
    Giving a lecture on "Human Rights Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century", the senior US official spoke about the challenges before women in India observing that some citizens like women and children face challenges that require special attention from society.
     
    "They (women) are frequently denied an education. Discrimination against females is what both countries face in different forms," she added.
     
    "In many places in India as well as the United States, forensic evidence in women's crimes go unreported," she said adding the two countries can share ideas about how to challenge these common problems.
     
    Sewall is the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and Special Coordinator for Tibet Issues for the United States department of state.
     
    Sewall also spoke about the rights of sexual minorities observing that culture was not a valid excuse for denying rights to minorities including the LGBT community.
     
    She gave the example of United States which she said had travelled a long way as far as giving rights to the LGBT community was concerned.
     
    "One of the things that we have learnt is that attitudes that are very firmly held that deny the personhood of a person can change," she said.
     
    "We have seen an enormous change towards lesbian and trans-sexual people in United States over the years," the senior US official said. This shows that "dominant attitudes are now dissipating".
     
    "So culture is not really an excuse for human rights," she added.
     
    Sewall said that India and the United States were both vibrant democracies. "In the United States, we have long seen diversity as our strength".
     
    "The US stands with each of you who believe that India's growth should benefit the entire population including the scheduled castes, schedules tribes and the religious minorities," she said.
     
    "We have to think beyond economic growth. All these discussions must take place with civil society on how to address societal needs," she added.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Pune girl wins 'Doodle 4 Google' contest

    Pune girl wins 'Doodle 4 Google' contest
    Pune's Vaidehi Reddy won the sixth edition of the "Doodle4Google" contest. The winning doodle would go live on the Google India homepage on Children's Day, Nov 14...

    Pune girl wins 'Doodle 4 Google' contest

    Chinese intrusions small issue, 'happens many times': Parrikar

    Chinese intrusions small issue, 'happens many times': Parrikar
    Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Wednesday played down intrusions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by the Chinese army calling most violations as...

    Chinese intrusions small issue, 'happens many times': Parrikar

    AAP to launch 'Delhi Dialogue' campaign

    AAP to launch 'Delhi Dialogue' campaign
    The Aam Aadmi Party Wednesday said it would launch a 'Delhi Dialogue' campaign for the Delhi assembly election.....

    AAP to launch 'Delhi Dialogue' campaign

    Nikki Haley to visit Punjab Friday

    Nikki Haley to visit Punjab Friday
     US' South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will arrive in Amritsar Friday (Nov 14), district administration officials said Tuesday....

    Nikki Haley to visit Punjab Friday

    India pledges over $9 mn for UN development activities

    India pledges over $9 mn for UN development activities
    Although India says it “has its own plate full of developmental challenges", it pledged contributions of over $9.2 million for UN development activities in 2015....

    India pledges over $9 mn for UN development activities

    Pakistan Army fires at Indian positions on LoC

    Pakistan Army fires at Indian positions on LoC
    The Pakistan Army Tuesday fired at Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, a source said....

    Pakistan Army fires at Indian positions on LoC