Safety, education and empowerment of women need support from all, says Women Commission chief – The Hindu

Report on Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission Initiatives for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

On July 23, 2025, the Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission Chairperson, Rayapati Sailaja, outlined a multi-faceted strategy to enhance the safety, education, and empowerment of women. The address underscored the necessity of a collective societal approach to achieve these objectives, which are in direct alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

2.0 Alignment with SDG 5: Gender Equality

The Commission’s core mission reflects a strong commitment to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Key initiatives and statements include:

• Collective Responsibility: The Chairperson emphasized that ensuring women’s safety and empowerment is a shared duty of families and society, promoting a culture of equality.
• Elimination of Harmful Practices (Target 5.3): A stern stance against child marriage was reiterated, with directives issued to enforcement agencies to conduct awareness campaigns in vulnerable regions.
• Ending Violence Against Women (Target 5.2): The launch of publicity posters for the ‘Prevention of Domestic Violence’ and the promotion of the Shakti safety application are direct measures to combat violence against women.
• Women’s Empowerment: The Chairperson stressed that while government initiatives exist, true progress requires women to be vigilant and utilize available support systems, fostering self-reliance and empowerment.

3.0 Contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work)

The Commission’s agenda strongly supports the creation of safe and inclusive learning and work environments, which are fundamental to achieving SDG 4 and SDG 8.

1. Focus on Education: Young women and students were explicitly urged to channel their energies toward education as a primary tool for empowerment.
2. Safe Workplaces and Institutions (Target 8.8 & 4.A): A formal call was made for all educational institutions and workplaces to establish Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs). This measure is crucial for preventing sexual harassment and ensuring safe environments, thereby protecting labor rights and promoting secure working conditions for women.
3. Regular Orientation: The need for regular orientation sessions for female students and employees on safety and their rights was highlighted as a proactive measure.

4.0 Strengthening SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The Commission’s focus on safety and justice mechanisms reinforces the objectives of SDG 16, particularly in reducing all forms of violence.

• Combating Modern Threats: Serious concern was expressed over the rise of online fraud and cyberstalking, with a specific caution issued to women to protect themselves from online predators. This addresses the need to protect individuals from new forms of crime.
• Parental Guidance: The Chairperson called for early intervention and guidance from parents to mitigate the negative influence of certain media, such as films, on youth, promoting a safer society.
• Awareness and Enforcement: The Commission’s district-wide awareness tours and directives to enforcement agencies are aimed at strengthening institutional response to issues faced by women.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are relevant to the article:

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
     
     Explanation: The article directly supports this target as the Commission Chairperson, Ms. Sailaja, “urged young women and girl students to channel their energy towards education and empowerment.” This highlights the push for equal access and focus on education for girls and women.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
     
     Explanation: The call to “constitute internal complaint committees to prevent incidents of sexual harassment” in educational institutions and workplaces is a direct measure to combat discrimination and create safer environments for women.
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
     
     Explanation: The article addresses this target by expressing “serious concern at the incidence of online frauds,” cautioning women against “stalkers and strangers online,” and launching publicity posters on the ‘Prevention of Domestic Violence’.
   • Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states that “the problem of child marriages would be sternly dealt with and that the enforcement agencies have been directed to launch awareness drives across vulnerable areas.”
   • Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
     
     Explanation: This target is addressed through the appeal for women to “download and install the Shakti App on their mobile phones” and the advice to “utilise all the technology and support systems at their disposal to ensure their safety and progress.”

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
     
     Explanation: The focus on women’s safety, preventing domestic violence, sexual harassment, and online stalking directly contributes to the reduction of violence.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions that “enforcement agencies have been directed to launch awareness drives” against child marriage and calls for the establishment of “internal complaint committees” at workplaces and educational institutions. These are mechanisms to enforce rules and provide access to justice for women.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Formation of Internal Complaint Committees: The article calls on “managements of educational institutions and workplaces to constitute internal complaint committees.” The number of institutions and workplaces that have established these committees can be a direct indicator of progress.
2. Implementation of Awareness Drives: The directive for “enforcement agencies to launch awareness drives across vulnerable areas” on child marriage is a measurable action. The number and reach of these campaigns can serve as an indicator.
3. Adoption of Technology for Safety: The appeal to “download and install the Shakti App” provides a specific, measurable indicator. The number of downloads and active users of the app can track the use of technology for women’s safety.
4. Incidence of Online Fraud and Stalking: The article expresses “serious concern at the incidence of online frauds” and warns against “stalkers.” A reduction in the reported cases of these crimes would be an indicator of increased safety for women online.
5. Reduction in Child Marriages: The statement that “the problem of child marriages would be sternly dealt with” implies that the rate of child marriages is a key metric being monitored and targeted for reduction.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thehindu.com