DEVELOPMENT is about protection of human rights of the concerned populations. It pre-supposes active participation of the populace in the decisionmaking processes while social justice remains one of the most important and cherished goals of development.

This report examines the linkages between wife-beating and one health-related consequence for women, their experience of fetal and infant mortality.

THE United Nations Commission on the Status of Women defines violence against women to include "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women..." [Economic and Social Council 1992].

Dowry has been a widespread social evil among the Hindus. Now it has spread to other communities also such as Muslims and Christians as well. The Parliament passed the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 with a view of eradicate the rampant evil.

Recent studies examining British attitudes and ideologies which structured colonial policies towards 'outcaste'2 and 'deviant' groups in indigenous society, have suggested that the groups who were marginalised included those whose activities were conceived of as 'threatening' to new normative def

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, is a landmark piece of legislation in India that regulates the conditions under which a pregnancy may be legally terminated.

The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA), formerly known as the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act (SITA), is an Indian law aimed at preventing human trafficking, particularly for commercial sexual exploitation.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, is a landmark legislation in India aimed at addressing and prohibiting the practice of instant triple talaq, or talaq-e-bid'ah, within the Muslim community.

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, is an Indian law aimed at prohibiting the indecent portrayal of women through advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, and other visual mediums.