In The Media

August 2024 2024 | News18

 

The government must establish robust mechanisms for tracking the disbursement and utilisation of funds to ensure that they are reaching the intended beneficiaries

June 2024 | Firstpost

 

Making just 13.63 per cent of the elected strength, the 18th Lok Sabha will comprise only 74 women compared to 469 men, even lower than the previous House

June 2024 | Australian Outlook

 

The time is ripe for India to walk the talk in terms of integrating gender in international relations as well as domestic policies. Using a feminist foreign policy, it must deconstruct dominant power structures that hinder its growth and embrace its leadership potential.

May 2023 | Observer Research Foundation

 

Women’s participation in spaces of power is the need of the hour to solve the current climate crisis.

April 2023 | South China Morning Post

 

Women experience the greatest impacts of climate change, and these impacts exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities which threaten their lives and health. Despite their unique experiences and being at the forefront of climate action movements, women continue to be absent from climate decision-making processes.

April 2023 | Firstpost

 

There currently exists a major accountability gap at the global stage, which is allowing for the grave violations and abuses against women in Afghanistan and Iran.

March 2023 | Observer Research Foundation

 

Labelling the discrimination against women under the Taliban as “gender apartheid” could work as a catalyst for change in Afghanistan.

March 2023 | Firstpost

 

The Modi government has demonstrated the willpower to uplift women and make a real difference, along with bringing about a shift in the paradigm from women’s development to women-led development.

March 2023 | Hindustan Times

 

Despite the great strides made by women since the inception of International Women's Day, many issues that they fought for over a century ago remain pervasive in modern society.

February 2023 | Firstpost

 

The war has challenged pre-existing, patriarchal perception about gender and broadened some opportunities for women. Yet, it is these very women who are also shouldering a disproportionate impact of conflict.

February 2023 | Hindustan Times

 

Women are at a constant disadvantage during disasters. But what makes the recent earthquakes devastatingly unique is the fact that the it has occurred in a volatile region confronting conflict that has lasted over 12 years.

February 2023 | Observer Research Foundation

 

Budget 2023 moves from the paradigm of women’s development to women-led development.

February 2023 | Firstpost

 

This year’s budget has made a convincing attempt to strengthen the financial independence and to facilitate the economic empowerment of women by providing them with greater resources and access. But, how will it actually impact women, still remains to be seen.

January 2023 | South China Morning Post

 

An investment in women’s education, healthcare or access to resources would, on its own, boost the economic prosperity of a country

live project or document so readers can enjoy the entire piece.

January 2023 | Observer Research Foundation

 

The year 2022 has brought a death knell for Afghan women. The international community needs to act now.

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January 2023 | Invest India

 

It is perhaps, time to move away from the conventional ways of solving the world’s biggest challenges and explore the unconventional methods—such as vigorously investing in women—for poverty eradication and inclusive as well as speedy economic growth.

December 2022 | Scroll.in

 

The Taliban needs to realise that women’s education is a fundamental right and that it is in its own interest to facilitate the academic access of women.

December 2022 | The Sunday Guardian

 

India should use its G20 presidency to pursue its thought leadership role, formulating solutions—to deal with the emerging fault lines in world affairs—that are not only transformative but also inclusive, thereby placing gender issues and women’s participation at the core of its agenda. 

December 2022 | Observer Research Foundation

 

COP27 should strive to be a platform that keeps women at the heart of intergovernmental climate negotiations.

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November 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

Female journalists around the world increasingly have no security, a phenomenon made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic and opportunistic government attacks.

November 2022 | Deccan Herald

 

Unrestricted usage of social media have made targeted harassment, abuse, and threats against women journalists easier than ever.

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October 2022 | The Sunday Guardian

 

In this article for The Sunday Guardian, I talk about the situation of the Afghan Women & girls—which has been deteriorating ever since the Taliban re-established their control over Kabul—and the silence of the international community.​

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September 2022 | The Toronto Star

 

Initially flowing from outrage over the death of Mahsa Amini, the protests have grown into a larger opposition against Iran’s clerical establishment.

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September 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

Mahsa Amini’s death has reignited long-suppressed anger among Iranians over issues including the dress code for women and repression of individual rights. While the government is unlikely to make gestures of accommodation, the protests underline a fundamental change, with Iranians more willing to fight for their rights.

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August 2022 | Observer Research Foundation

 

Despite glaring evidence of women's rights violations in Afghanistan, the international community remains silent.

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August 2022 | Hindustan Times

 

With the great strides made on women empowerment, India is well prepared to lead the way forward on achieving a greater commitment towards gender equality during its forthcoming G20 presidency in December 2022 to November 2023.

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August 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

Following the US’ withdrawal, the Taliban government has significantly limited women’s ability to earn a living, access education and escape violence.

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August 2022 | Economic & Political Weekly

 

Article on Draupadi Murmu's presidential victory and what it means for India.

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July 2022 | The Daily Guardian

 

The article debunks the myth that India is not doing enough to improve women's employment.

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July 2022 | The Daily Guardian | Republished in The Quint

 

In this article, I along with Nalini Bhandari (Manager, Invest India) talk about how far India has come in terms of women's participation in STEM.

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June 2022 | The Hindu

 

Its ratification of the Istanbul Convention is also timely in the context of Russia’s invasion and Kyiv moving closer to Europe.

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June 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

More than three decades after the abortion pill first became available,

legislation to approve the drug is winding its way through Japan’s parliament. An important question needs to be raised here: to what extent can Japan’s new legislation – which is likely to be approved by the end of the year –

be described as a laudable step towards improving women's’ rights in the country?

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April 2022 | Observer Research Foundation

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Increasing reports of sexual and physical violence against women are surfacing in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis.

April 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

While South Asian countries have received flak for not taking a direct stance on the conflict, they can still play a pivotal role in protecting women’s rights and security in Ukraine.

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March 2022 | Deccan Herald

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Regressive comments, such as those made in the Assembly, will make it more challenging to have people understand that menstruation is a basic biological process.

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March 2022 | Observer Research Foundation

 

Despite six months of Taliban’s catastrophic rule, the international community continues to turn a Nelson’s eye.

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March 2022 | Deccan Herald

 

According to estimates, Russia's full-blown incursion into Ukraine could

prompt nearly five million individuals out of their homes, most of whom will be women.​

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February 2022 | Scroll.in

 

The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities within India's society. But two years into the health crisis, it is perhaps time that the Indian government begins to walk its talk on bringing about women-led development.

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February 2022 | Deccan Herald

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The 2022-2023 gender budget has failed to present a sensitive front to

prioritise critical challenges that women face in light of the ongoing pandemic.

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January 2022 | South Asian Voices

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Indian leaders should apply lessons from Mexico's implementation of a feminist foreign policy given the similar development challenges as well as parallel structural inequalities, masculinised political systems & patriarchal values,

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January 2022 | South China Morning Post

 

The emergence of a fake app listing Muslim women ‘for sale’ – the second in six months – has added to fears of growing Islamophobia in the country. However, threats of cyberviolence against women must be taken seriously, yet India’s ruling party remains complicit.

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December 2021 | The Hindu

 

Under the Taliban, the gains they made over 20 years, particularly in education and employment, face decimation.

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November 2021 | Asia Times

 

The country ranks dead last on the latest global Women, Peace and Security index.

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November 2021 | Scroll.in

 

About 50%-70% of women in India have faced some form of domestic violence

at least once in their lifetime, reports suggest.

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November 2021 | South Asian Voices

 

A Feminist foreign policy, which offers an innovative, rights-based approach across all auspices of a nation’s foreign policy, could add much-needed dynamism to Indian diplomacy and promote a more positive image of the country. 

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September 2021 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Analysed data gathered by IPCS’ Southeast Asia Research Programme for a project mapping the pandemic's social, political, security, and economic impact across the region.

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September 2021 | Deccan Herald

 

If the Taliban wants its govt to be recognised and build relations with other member states, it needs to uphold and guarantee the socio-political and economic rights of women.

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September 2021 | The Diplomat

 

The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing economic inequalities within India’s patriarchal society.

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August 2021 | South China Morning Post

 

It is hard to believe the Taliban will suddenly change its outlook towards women, given how it treats those already under its control​.

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June 2021 | Modern Diplomacy

 

A FFP could offer a concrete opportunity for India to build a more inclusive policy making set-up; breakaway from the predominant patriarchal notions; and, address pandemic relief strategies—from the viewpoint of women and other vulnerable or under-represented sections of society.

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May 2021 | The Diplomat

 

It is time to recognize the efforts of these unseen heroes of the crisis and acknowledge the critical roles that women play in Indian society.

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May 2021 | South Asian Voices

 

India has borne witness to some of the most egregious crimes against women, experienced significant political upheaval, and all the while continued to deny women adequate representation in peace and security matters. To respond to these challenges, India must apply the WPS agenda in its domestic sphere—in both conflict or non-conflict zones—to ensure better outcomes for women and for peace. 

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February 2021 | Asia Times

 

While sex crime is indeed a serious problem, the legislation focuses on harsh penalties rather than underlying causes.

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January 2021 | The Quint

 

Women should have been placed at the centre of the government’s stimulus efforts.

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December 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar contextualises the need for a gendered approach in India's post-pandemic economic recovery.

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December 2020 | Deccan Herald

 

Outbreak of the pandemic combined with pre-existing restrictive measures have made matters extremely difficult for women in the region.

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November 2020 | Modern Diplomacy

 

To fulfil the goal of building long-term and inclusive recovery systems in light of the current pandemic; for the pursuit of conflict prevention and international peace; and to ensure that policy responses address the specific needs of women, perhaps, it is time for the South Asian nations to consider the adoption of a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP).​

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November 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar & Kavya Sharma consider the ways in which the pandemic intersects with India's food and nutrition security landscape.

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October 2020 | South Asian Voices

 

However, an important question that still needs addressing is—what implications does the election result hold for India and its citizens? Based on the current political environment, it appears that India’s new membership will contribute towards enhancing India’s confidence in international forums, improve its global standing, and, in real terms, develop the mechanisms that enable it to empower women.

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September 2020 | The Quint

 

As the COVID crisis evolves, it also risks intensifying the gender gap in Food Security & Nutrition.

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August 2020 | Deccan Herald

 

The #ChallengeAccepted trend is a digital manifestation of that aspect of the feminist movement that shows women as beautiful, strong and powerful.

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August 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar argues that women's reproductive and sexual health care should be an essential component of India's COVID-19 response strategy.

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June 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar argues that the challenges faced by domestic workers predate COVID-19, and the lockdown guidelines only served to exacerbate them.

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May 2020 | The Diplomat

 

The nationwide lockdown has aggravated the plight of domestic workers in India, and highlighted their lack of adequate rights.

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April 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar explores the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and explains how women are likely to be affected more.

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April 2020 | Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and

Engagement (NIICE)

 

It is no longer a myth that the upheaval of COVID-19 is deepening pre-existing inequalities and exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems throughout South Asia, which in turn, is disproportionately affecting different sections of the society—especially the women of the region. But despite the hardship, these women remain missing from SAARC’s COVID-19 diplomacy and decision-making processes. In order to adequately address the hurdles that these women face, the first step is to make women a central part of the regional decision-making bodies and COVID-19 policy formulation and implementation.

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April 2020 | Deccan Herald

 

While there is an increasing recognition of the hardship faced by migrant workers and labourers, not much has been discussed about the negative consequences of India’s pandemic strategy on women.

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March 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar looks at why a gendered approach to understand the impact of climate change is crucial to the formulation of appropriate mitigation and response strategies.

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March 2020 | The Quint

 

The coronavirus pandemic is unlikley to end the stalemate between the government and the Shaheen Bagh protestors.

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March 2020 | South Asian Voices

 

This decision opens the door for women to serve for longer tenures and control units—such as logistics, signals, or engineer regiments—in the combat-support arms and services division of the army. However, while the SC’s decision enables greater equality for women, the Indian Army still needs to take further steps to fully guarantee women equal rights.​

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March 2020 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar argues that the NRC process in Assam disproportionately affected women because it failed to take into account the gendered nature of society as well as the process' gendered impact.

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January 2020 | South Asian Voices

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The absence of a NAP within India’s domestic realm likely stems from its long-standing concerns about the international community violating its sovereignty.

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December 2019 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar examines the tangible outcomes of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 with regard to women’s rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

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August 2019 | The Diplomat

 

Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has not been the game changer for women that many hoped it would be.

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August 2019 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar examines the challenges and opportunities to women's inclusion and participation in the peace process currently underway in Myanmar.Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has not been the game changer for women that many hoped it would be.

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June 2019 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar explores whether a Regional Action Plan might help

overcome the challenges to achieving the goals of UNSCR 1325 in the ASEAN region.

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May 2019 | The Diplomat

 

The small step forward highlights just how far women have to go to achieve gender parity in the Indian armed forces.

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May 2019 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar explores the challenges of institutionalisation and implementation of UNSCR 1325 in ASEAN structures.

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April 2019 | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

 

Akanksha Khullar explores how the ASEAN as a grouping and its individual member states have engaged with UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

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