Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Speaks on Women’s Rights at SheShakti Event in New Delhi
On September 16, 2024, Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, delivered a powerful keynote address at the SheShakti event in New Delhi. The event was organized by a media outlet and focused on women’s rights and safety.
Recognizing Women’s Entitlements
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the need for society to move beyond making concessions for women and instead recognize their entitlements. He pointed out that while legal provisions exist to safeguard women’s interests, changing societal mindsets is crucial for real justice.
Challenges Facing Women
In his address, the Chief Justice discussed the broad challenges facing women today, including the need for equal opportunities and dignity. He highlighted that women’s rights are not just a women’s issue and shared how he had personally learned valuable lessons from his female colleagues.
Historical Contributions and Future Goals
Chief Justice Chandrachud referenced the important role women have played in shaping India’s rights framework, mentioning feminist Hansa Mehta, who drafted the Indian Women’s Charter of Life before the adoption of the Indian Constitution. He further stated that women’s equal participation in governance and leadership roles leads to better development outcomes.
Addressing Gendered Domestic Labor
To achieve true gender equality, the ongoing issue of gendered domestic labor must be addressed. The focus must be on leveling the playing field and understanding women’s lived realities, beyond just statistical representation.
Doubts Revealed
Chief Justice -: The Chief Justice is the head judge of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in India. They make important decisions about laws and justice.
DY Chandrachud -: DY Chandrachud is the current Chief Justice of India. He is a very important judge who helps make big decisions about laws in the country.
SheShakti Event -: The SheShakti event is a special gathering focused on women’s empowerment and rights. ‘Shakti’ means power in Hindi, and ‘She’ refers to women.
New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India. It is where many important government buildings and events are located.
Keynote address -: A keynote address is a main speech given at an event. It usually sets the tone and highlights the main topics of the event.
Entitlements -: Entitlements are rights or benefits that people deserve to have. For example, women have the right to equal opportunities and respect.
Societal mindsets -: Societal mindsets are the common ways people in a society think and behave. Changing these mindsets means helping people think differently about important issues.
Gendered domestic labor -: Gendered domestic labor refers to household chores and tasks that are often expected to be done by women. This includes cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children.