This project it's been presented at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

1. ”MAY YOU BE THE MOTHER OF HUNDREDS SONS”
The cost of daughters in India
Maria Teresa Di Chito

2. Overview
• 17% of the World population
• 6th
World economy
• Patriarchal culture
• 70% Rural population

3. * Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

4. Women & Girls of India
• Religion & family
• Seen as burden
• Housewives/ joint family
• Poor: economically & information*
• Do not own land/ Inheritance
• Hard worker: low paid
Invisible & Anonymous lives!!!
*Literacy Rate 2011 census

5. Issues Causing Gender Inequality
India
• Women are blamed for conceiving baby girls
• Women are forced to kill their own babies: Sex Selective
Abortion & Infanticide in rural areas
• Small Family norm
• Male preference- Social status
• Girls are not given the best treatment:
I. Education
II. Food
III.Medical
c
• Women are blamed for conceiving baby girls
• Women are forced to kill their own babies: Sex Selective
Abortion & Infanticide in rural areas
• Small Family norm
• Male preference- Social status
• Girls are not given the best treatment:
I. Education
II. Food
III.Medical
c

6. ‘Missing Women’ phenomenon leading to:
Child Marriage
High Maternal Mortality
Sexual and domestic violence
Mental Health problems & Suicides
Increasing crime
Human trafficking & Prostitution
Sex-selective abortion is not Right!
infanticide is not Right!

7. • The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1972, as
amended in 2003
•The Pre-Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic
Technique Act 1994, as amended in 2003
- Prohibits sex selection
- Prohibits disclosure of sex of foetus
- Prohibits sale of ultrasound equipment for detection
Domestic Laws

8. • Pregnant women are sent where the law is not applicable.
• Female deaths reported as males.
• Pre-Natal tests are carried out illegally.
• Corruption.
• Government fail to prosecute.
• Lack of reporting/ Lack of legal support.
Issues With Law Enforcement
Current solutions to the sex-selection problem are largely failing

9. Changes To Be Followed
• There MUST be a Social demand for change.
• The mind-set of men MUST change.
• Education.
• Job training/ Funds.
• Reporting.
• Government MUST be accountable to enforce the
law.
• Include all the tests in the PCPNDT.
• Life imprisonment.

10. Strategies to Promote
Gender Equality
• Bring strong & powerful social changes to
media
• Financially independent women
• Government to encourage people to
conceive & keep baby girls: Financial
Incentives
• Law should be amended to allow for pre-
implantation sex selection in favour of girls.

11. Conclusion
• There are indeed more baby boy than baby girls.
• Unbalanced Sex-ratio.
• NGOs can help but only up to certain point.
• Promote the value of women.
• The improvement of education levels, legal and
political support, information and communication
campaigns have to make women aware of their
rights.
c

12. This archaic practice can
change!
 It is a matter of mind-set.
 It can be changed and can be
done.
 Women needs to be aware of
their rights!
 Wake up call at all levels in
India; educational, legal
and political.

14. • B.S Chimni “Prolegomena to a class approach to international law” 2010
• Mkyhailo Buryka, Alyona Klochoko, “Separate aspects of legal regulation of
women’s labour rights” 2017
• https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2009/03/female-foeticide-a-harsh-reality/
• https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2010/12/female-infanticide-in-india-2/
• https://genderbytes.wordpress.com/news/
• http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CEDAW.aspx
• http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/india-current-population.html
• http://www.indiacelebrating.com/social-issues/gender-inequality-in-india/
• http://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/economic-survey-2018-
pink-theme-emphasise-women-empowerment-gender-
inequality/story/269078.html
References

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16. References
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