WOMEN’S MANIFESTO

On 17 February 2009, women activists and leaders gathered in Hyderabad, India for an initial meeting to discuss issues critical to the women of Andhra Pradesh. The immediate goal was to articulate a series of demands in support of women’s equality and equity in advance of the state elections in 2009 April. This is, however, an ongoing, inclusive initiative and all women are invited to participate as the project moves forward beyond this election cycle.

WOMEN’S MANIFESTO

WOMEN’S MANIFESTO

WOMEN’S MANIFESTO

We the women of Andhra Pradesh affirm our rights and demand a voice, face and name for all women who are denied equal opportunities and equitable outcomes as a result of their gender.

We are:
Mindful of the fact that women have been historically excluded from development processes and barred from the public domain as they are considered fit only for domestic roles in the private sphere,
Regretful that women and girls pay a heavy price for sexual assault, rape and other forms of gender-based violence,
Recognizing that women are faced with a myriad of problems including, but not limited to, rising food prices, economic crises, job loss and displacement due to infrastructure projects,

Convinced that these inequalities or exclusions are deeply institutionalized and unquestioned, hence requiring immediate, strategic responses

Acknowledging the contribution of women in bringing up children, supporting and building their communities, and conserving and protecting the environment,

Reaffirming our desire to achieve greater democratization of society and decentralized governance as a means to negotiate the sharing of power in decision-making across all sectors and institutions,

Recognizing that India—as a signatory of the Convention to Eliminate all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Millennium Development Goals, and other international treaties—is legally obligated to remove the social, economic and political barriers that prevent women from fully and freely exercising their rights, and

Declaring our commitment to fight for the equal representation of and role for women in all decision-making bodies that have an impact on our future.

We place the following demands to all political parties who are contesting the coming elections and urge them to incorporate these demands in their in their election manifestos to be pursued and fulfilled in the next five years.

Charter of Demands

1. Secure and sustainable livelihoods for all women in rural areas through the provision of job cards to all women and 150 guaranteed working days per woman.

2. Clear policy on providing basic amenities (ration cards, water, electricity, access to primary healthcare and primary education) at receiving sites to all displaced people and migrants.

3. Thirty-three percent reservation for women in all elected bodies from the panchayat level to the legislative assembly and ministerial positions. Ongoing capacity building to women aspirants to and incumbents in panchayats.

4. Implement the new education bill to the fullest extent and make education compulsory up to the age of eighteen. 100% government-subsidized compulsory education for all girls through intermediate level in a school of the girl’s choice. All the girls, irrespective of caste and economic status, should be covered under this policy.

5.
Ensure implementation of the domestic violence act by providing dedicated police control rooms to address cases of violence against women; provide protection and financial support to women victims; reduce delays in investigation and prosecution.

6. Provide universal health care services to all; bring all health services, including reproductive health and child vaccination, under Arogya Sri; upgrade PHCs to include inpatient and emergency care in rural areas and provide better incentives to doctors to work in rural areas.