Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI)

Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI)

Subject: Schemes

What is Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI):

• The Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI) was appointed by the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India, in 1971. 
• Its primary purpose was to study the status of women in India.
• The CSWI was established in response to a request from the United Nations for a status of women report for International Women’s Year in 1975.
• The committee had two main tasks: 
  • Examining the constitutional, legal, administrative provisions related to the social status of women, their education, and employment, and assessing the impact of these provisions.
• The CSWI’s report, titled “Towards Equality,” concluded that there had been an increase in the marginalization of women in the economy and society. It noted declining sex ratios, disparities in life expectancy and death rates between men and women, and challenges in women’s access to literacy, education, and livelihood opportunities.
• The report contributed to a broader understanding of gender-related challenges and played a role in shaping subsequent policies and initiatives aimed at improving the status of women in India.
• In 1974, the Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI) deliberated on women’s reservation in politics. Proponents argued it would boost women’s representation, but the majority upheld gender equality principles, rejecting the idea
• The Committee on the Status of Women in India (CSWI) recommended the setting up of a National Commission for women to fulfil the surveillance functions to facilitate redressal of grievances and to accelerate the socio-economic development of women

What is the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW):

• The UNCSW or simply CSW is the chief international inter-governmental body dedicated to the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality.
• It functions under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the principal organs of the United Nations.
• It was established in 1946 by a resolution of the ECOSOC.
• The CSW documents the condition of women’s lives the world over and also strives for setting global standards on women empowerment and gender equality.
• In 1996, the ECOSOC expanded the mandate of the Commission to include supervising and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
• The expanded mandate also includes bringing in a gender perspective in all of the UN’s activities.
• The Commission is supported in its work by UN Women, which is its Secretariat.
• CSW is headquartered in New York, USA.