Top Stories Concerning Women This Week: 6 Nov

Welcome back to this week’s top stories concerning women. Women are realizing their potential and raising their voices all around the world. Millions of other women and young girls are motivated to dream big by reading about successful women because it gives them the courage to stand up for themselves and realize their goals. Let’s enlighten ourselves by looking at this week’s top stories concerning women. 

1. Chitra Wagh is named president of the BJP’s women’s branch in Maharashtra

On Thursday, the Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Morcha announced the appointment of Chitra Wagh as its president by the state chapter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chandrashekar Bawakule, the party’s Maharashtra state president, appointed her. Wagh oversaw the women’s wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) before joining the BJP. In 2019, she left the position and the party.

2. SC notifies the Center of the PIL to revive the “Women’s, Reservation Bill”

The National Federation of Indian Women filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on Friday asking for the revival of the “Women’s Reservation Bill,” which expired in Parliament eight years ago. The Supreme Court (SC) requested a response from the Central government. In 2010, the Rajya Sabha approved the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008, also referred to as the “Women’s Reservation Bill.” The law, however, expired in 2014 after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and JK Maheshwari’s bench heard the case in March of this year and ordered the Centre to answer within six weeks. They also provided the petitioner three further weeks to respond to the affidavit that the Ministry of Law and Justice was required to prepare. “Our society’s patriarchal mentality has resulted in the oppression of women by denying them their legal standing as equals. This can only be changed if women are given leadership roles to successfully implement such changes, according to the PIL written by lawyer Prashant Bhushan on behalf of the petitioner.

3. The first Asian to be appointed as a UN Special Rapporteur on Racism is Ashwini K, a Dalit scholar

Ashwini K.P., a Dalit academic and activist, has been named the Special Rapporteur for Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). She is the first Asian and Indian person to hold this position. Ashwini K.P., a PhD student at Jawaharlal Nehru University who is from the Kolar area of Karnataka, has collaborated closely with a number of grassroots organizations. Her research interests include Occupation-based Discrimination, Descent, and UN Mechanism. She will concentrate on intersectionality and gender within her mandate, according to an interview with The Leaflet. Beginning on November 1, Ashwini will serve a three-year term and address current instances of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination.

4. Two-Finger Test Banned in Rape Cases by SC

The “two-finger test” was outlawed by the Supreme Court on Monday in rape and sexual assault cases. The supreme court reportedly said that it is patriarchal and sexist to imply that a woman cannot be trusted when she claims that she was raped just because she is sexually active, according to LiveLaw. The above-mentioned test, according to the justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli’s ruling, has “no scientific basis” and just “re-victimizes and re-traumatises” survivors. The Union Health Ministry has been ordered by the bench to make sure that victims of sexual assault and rape are not exposed to the same treatment. Additionally, it instructed health professionals to host training on the proper way to examine sexual assault survivors.

5. Rigzin Chorol is the First Ladakhi Female Army Officer

Rigzin Chorol, a native of Ladakh, became the first female officer in the Indian Army. After completing her 11-month training at the Officers’ Training Academy, she realized her late husband’s goal. During the ceremony, the mother cradled her son while announcing that she had realized her husband Rigzin Khanadap’s wish for her to join the Indian Army as an officer. In the Zedang Sumpa battalion of the Ladakh Scouts, Chorol’s late spouse served as a rifleman and was killed while performing his duty. Chorol graduated from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai together with the other 151 male cadets and 35 female cadets.