The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has issued an Advisory on “Women’s Safety at Work and Public Spaces” to the Secretaries of ten Union Ministries, the Chairperson of the Railway Board, and the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all States and Union Territories.
The Advisory notes that despite the existence of stringent laws to protect women’s rights, their safety at workplaces and public spaces remains a concern. As per the recent Periodic Labour Force Participation Survey in India, women’s participation in the labour force stood at 34.6% in September 2026. However, about 4.4 lakh cases of crimes against women were also reported, as per the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report published in 2026.
The NHRC acknowledged that these figures underscored the persistent challenges in ensuring the safety and security of women and highlight the need for sustained and concerted efforts. It further noted that women’s safety is vital to ensure their constitutional entitlement to justice and equal opportunities, and that safety at workplaces and public spaces is essential to enable women to participate fully in the workforce and realise their full potential.
The Advisory has been sent to the Union Ministries of Women and Child Development, Education, Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Labour and Employment, Corporate Affairs, Road Transport and Highways, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Health and Family Welfare, besides the Railway Board.
The Advisory focuses on eight key areas for action, including
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raising awareness on women’s safety and sexual harassment,
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infrastructure,
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encouraging bystander intervention,
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the role of the police,
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survivor support,
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cybercrime against women,
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long-term reforms,
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other measures
The NHRC has urged all concerned authorities to implement the recommendations contained in the Advisory and furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two months, informing it of the progress made in their implementation.
Read the detailed advisory HERE
