The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an advisory on women’s safety at workplaces and public spaces, calling upon the Centre, State governments and Union Territory administrations to strengthen preventive measures, improve institutional accountability and ensure effective protection against gender-based violence.
The Commission has sought action-taken reports within two months, detailing the steps undertaken to implement its recommendations.
The advisory has been circulated to the Secretaries of 10 Union Ministries, the Chairperson of the Railway Board and the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of all States and Union Territories. It seeks coordinated intervention across government departments to address concerns relating to women’s safety in professional environments and public areas.
The NHRC has identified eight broad areas requiring attention, including awareness campaigns on women’s safety and sexual harassment, improvements in public infrastructure, encouraging bystander intervention, strengthening police response, providing support to survivors, tackling cybercrime against women and undertaking long-term institutional reforms.
The Commission has emphasised that ensuring a safe environment for women is integral to the protection of their dignity, equality and fundamental rights. It has highlighted the need to translate existing legal safeguards into effective action through better implementation, institutional vigilance and public awareness.
The advisory also addresses the importance of making workplaces and public spaces safer so that women can participate in economic and social life without fear of harassment, discrimination or violence.
The Union Ministries to which the advisory has been issued include Women and Child Development, Education, Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Labour and Employment, Corporate Affairs, Road Transport and Highways, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Health and Family Welfare, along with the Railway Board.
Through the advisory, the Commission has sought a coordinated response from the concerned authorities to strengthen existing mechanisms, improve accountability and ensure that measures for women’s safety are implemented effectively. The two-month reporting deadline is intended to enable the NHRC to assess the action taken by the authorities concerned.
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