Celebrating Women's Day once a year is not enough to bring real change. Female foeticide remains a grim reality, often enabled by sex determination tests that circumvent legal restrictions. It is troubling that a mother herself may participate in abortion, ending a life before it begins. The high mortality rate of girl children is another alarming issue, as is the perception of girls as commodities in the marriage market. Progress has been made in terms of equal opportunities for education and employment, but much more needs to be done. Child marriage must be criminalised, and dowry-related deaths should be met with stringent legal action. Sexual harassment — whether in the workplace, institutions, or public spaces — must be taken seriously. Rape cases should be fast-tracked and resolved within a month with severe punishment for perpetrators. Human trafficking for prostitution is a horrifying crime that dehumanizes women, and urgent measures are needed to eliminate it. Women have proven their capabilities as leaders and professionals across fields, yet their numbers remain disproportionately low. The focus on women's rights and responsibilities is encouraging, but true equality demands continuous effort, beyond just one day of recognition.
