AI In Urban Spaces: A Gateway To Strengthening Women’s Rights
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
Arohi Sanyal, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
ABSTRACT
The Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was introduced in the United Nations General Assembly on 18th December 1979 and became an international treaty on 3rd September,1981. India is also a signatory to the treaty which seeks to provide fundamental human rights and dignity to all women and expects all signatories to frame laws which ensure development and advancement of women so as to enable them to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms like men.
Unfortunately, even after a lapse of several years this goal is yet to be achieved in India. It is a sad situation that women are not safe in public spaces making it extremely difficult for them to go about their daily life or access education or a career, unlike men who have the option to study and work even at distant places since they do not face harassment in public spaces and can thus avail the best facilities for career, health and wellbeing. This dichotomy is a violation of the basic human rights of women.
In my paper I would begin by defining human rights and proceed to providing a gendered perspective of it and how law makers, who are predominantly men, overlook the specific needs of women while framing laws and policies. I would be dwelling on the need for urban safety for women, with focus on public transport and elaborate on the harassments faced by women. As per a survey of International Labor Organization, 56% of women have been harassed while using a public transport. A safe public space is not a favor but a necessity to empower women with education and skill to ensure their participation in the work place. I would outline how this violence convolutes the daily life of women hindering their access to basic needs which not only impacts their skill development and employment but also their access to health which restricts their overall quality of life and also throws a spanner in the economic development of the nation.
Even though the government has introduced several initiatives - from laws to helplines and apps to improve the situation but the success rate of most of the programs leave a lot to be desired, which I would highlight. I would discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being utilized presently to strengthen women’s safety and also dwell on its probable misuse too.
Finally, I would discuss suggestive ways to strengthen urban safety by harnessing the power of AI. I would attempt a comparative analysis of how AI is being used to make public spaces safe in other countries and what features of their technology can be adopted in India given our unique geographic, social and economic characteristics.
