- 35 Acts, Rules and Regulations
Women Empowerment not only means to strengthen the social, economic and educational status of women. It also means creating an environment where there is no violence or gender discrimination and where women have equal rights in community, society and workplace.
Today, there is a rape every 29 minutes, a case of molestation every 15 minutes and a dowry death every 4 hours. This is, inhuman for a nation that prides itself for all the dignity it gives to its women as part of its culture and traditions.
Every woman has an equal right to live, and right to live with dignity and freely express herself! In the present times, various crimes against women are prevalent not only in India but across the globe, including be it domestic violence, cruelty, desertion, or stalking, rape, harassment, extortion or other crimes. Though we have laws protecting women in India yet, the women both in Urban and Rural India face constant threats both online and offline and continue to face discrimination or other unfair acts and crimes whether at home or at their workplace. This article aims at giving an overview of the various laws made for protection and empowerment of women in India.
Followings are the 35 laws for women in India:-
1. Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987:- An Act to provide for the more effective prevention of the commission of Sati and its glorification and for matters connected herewith or incidental thereto. It provides for punishments for offences relating to Sati, e.g. Attempt to commit Sati, abetment of Sati and glorification of Sati.
2. Commission of Sati (Prevention) Rules, 1988.
3. Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939:- An Act to consolidate and clarify the provisions of Muslim Law relating to suits for dissolution of marriage by women under Muslim law and to remove doubts as to the effects of the renunciation of Islam by a married Muslim woman on her marriage tie.
4. Divorce Act, 1869:- An Act to amend the law relating to Divorce and Matrimonial causes
5. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961:- An Act to prohibit the giving and taking of dowry.
6. Dowry Prohibition (Maintenance of List of Presents to Bride and Bridegroom) Rule, 1985.
7. Hindu Widows' Re-Marriage Act, 1985:- An Act to remove all legal obstacles to the marriage of Hindu widows.
8. Hindu Women's Rights to Property Act, 1937:- An Act to amend the Hindu law governing Hindu Women's Rights to property.
9. Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956:- An Act to provide in pursuance of the international convention signed at New York on 9th day of May 1950 for the prevention of immoral traffic.
10. Indecent Presentation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986:- An Act to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisement or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
11. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961:- An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain period before and after child birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.
12. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971:- An Act to provide for the termination of certain pregnancies by registered by registered medical practitioners and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
13. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003
14. Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986:- An Act to protect the rights of Muslim women who have been divorced by, or have obtained divorce from, their husbands and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
15. Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Rules, 1986
16. National Commission for Women Act, 1990
17. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex selection) Act, 1994
18. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex selection) Rules, 1996
19. Pre-Natal and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse)(Advisory Committee) Rules, 1996
20. Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act, 2005
21. Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Rules, 2006
22. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013
23. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
24. Constitution of India, 1950
25. Employee's State Insurance Act, 1948
26. Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
27. Indian Evidence Act, 1872
28. Factories Act, 1948
29. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
30. Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
31. Hindu Succession Act, 1956
32. Mines Act, 1952
33. Indian Penal Code, 1860
34. Protection of Human Right Act, 1993
35. Special Marriage Act, 1954
