CHANDIGARH, JanN 8: The four-day conference on "Challenges for women in the next millennium" began here today with delegates stressing early introduction of reservation for women in Parliament.Inaugurating the conference, chairperson of the National Commission for Women Dr Mohini Giri said a national policy for women is to be announced soon. Rebutting the allegation that reservation for women in panchayats was being used as a proxy by their politician husbands, she was hopeful that reservation in Parliament would be announced soon. A proposal of compulsory registration of marriages was also mooted by Dr Giri.Thanpuying Sumalee, the honorary chairperson of the Asia Pacific Watch, felt that the present economic crisis in South-East Asia would affect women as funds for their welfare may decline.Dr Noeleen Heyzer, executive director of United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM), called for eradication of feminised poverty and violence.Later, Punjab Governor Lt Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) called upon women to launch a mass-based social struggle against violence. Presiding over the session on violence against women, he said studies had shown that women were the prime targets in communal violence, terrorism and custodial violence.Covert manifestation of violence, reflected in gender discrimination, is resulting in an increasing incidence of neurosis depression and other psychosomatic disorders amongst women, he added.Minister of State for External Affairs Kamla Sharma gave the slogan of "zero tolerance for violence". Later, addressing a press conference, she said sex determination should not be held until medically necessary. She also supported 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and legislatures.
