WOMEN- RIGHT TO SURVIVE: ISSUES OF FEMALE INFANTICIDE AND FOETICIDE

Women rights are human rights. There is no necessity for this statement if there are no gender inequalities in the society. The patriarchy is responsible for an unequal world cutting across boundaries be developed or less developed, black or white, rich or poor. Women's equal dignity and human rights as full human beings are enshrined in the basic instruments of today's international community. From the Charter of the United Nations' endorsement of the equal rights of men and women, to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the subsequent international treaties and declarations, the rights of women are made central to the vision of a democratic society. However, the fine words of these documents and the Vienna Declaration in 1993 and the declaration of Beijing in 1995 stand in sharp contrast to the daily reality of life for millions of women. There are several issues which suppress the prominence of women in public life. Of the 1.3 billion people living in poverty, 70% were women; the majority of the world's refugees are women; female illiteracy is invariably higher than male illiteracy. Women and girl-children are treated as commodities in cross-border prostitution rackets and the pornography industry. Millions of girls are still subject to genital mutilation, while women in every country are regular victims of domestic violence. In many countries, women lack access to reproductive health care and every day women are targeted in armed conflicts. Women's economic, social and cultural rights continue to be neglected. Women's major contributions still remain invisible and unpaid and unaccountable. Their services are taken for granted, while similar service by men are recognized and adds to GDP. Her rights to claim her contributions to be included in the GDP remains unaddressed as this it is a discrimination and violation of human right. Above, all the female infanticide and foeticide are widely found cutting across the society. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has been passed long back but whether it is functioning with full vigour applying its provisions is a question. The women who are supposed to constitute half or more than half of the population given the scientific fact that women must be biologically strong tend to be declining in number due to son preference and other issues associated with men. There are states and districts in India particularly the developed states showing a decline in sex ratio accounting for less than 800 per thousand males. The theoretical reasons for such declining sex ratio is increasing son's preference, but what is actually attributed is the dowry, security of girl children, etc. and for many others reasons we as the member of society is snatching the women's rights that is right to survive……….. Our basic right- right to life. Hence, women's rights must be protected as human rights as it is necessary for the proper development and progress of the society. Keywords: Female Feticide, Sex Ratio, Sex Selection Technology