In a significant step towards a gender just legal order, the Supreme Court of India launched a "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes", on Wednesday.
The groundbreaking initiative under the directions of the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud is aimed at fulfilling the Indian judiciary’s goal of eradicating preconceived gender stereotypes from judicial discourse, especially those concerning women.
The "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes" seeks to empower judges and members of the legal community to identify, understand, and counteract harmful stereotypes about women. The Handbook features a glossary of gender-unjust terms and proposes alternative words and phrases for use in legal documents, including pleadings, orders, and judgments.
The compilation identifies common stereotypes about women and demonstrates the inaccuracies of these stereotypes and how they can impact the application of the law. It also encapsulates the prevailing legal doctrine on crucial issues, particularly those involving sexual violence. In its entirety, the Handbook aims to equip judges with the knowledge and tools to critically evaluate their own reasoning, writing and to ensure that justice is served fairly and equitably.
The launch of the "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes" marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a more just and equitable society. By equipping judges and the legal community with the tools to identify, understand, and reject stereotypes, it is aimed to pave the way for a more inclusive, impartial, and gender-just legal system. The “Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes" is available at https://main.sci.gov.in/pdf/LU/16082023_073106.pdf
Picture Source :
