A Bill to protect Indian women

A group of minister of government have finalized draft of anti-rape bill. It will be placed before the cabinet. Anti-sexual assault bill will be passed soon. It must be passed before March 22 to become law.This law will make acid attacks, voyeurism and stalking non-bailable offences.These laws have been made to protect women; the real protection is empowerment. When there is grave poverty, all other rights are negated. A poor women stands no chance; her rights disappear when she has to face men who are working in positions higher than her. Poverty must be eradicated before we can enact laws which would give rights to women.The age of consent has been reduced from 18 to 16.Legal age for marriage is 18( minimum age). Being a traditional society, this does not make any sense. This means that female children that young will be given choices. Are they ready mentally to make that choice? These laws are made to give legal protection, but they are not protecting.This would negate child rights given by 'Protection of Child against Sexual Offences Act' passed in 2012. It would be negating Juvenile Justice Act. No child of 16 would understand what is an "informed consent" This could lead to more crimes against the female child.Emotional development of the child is being sacrificed. There is already need for change in it.First the child has to be protected by law, because it is the child which becomes a woman.What is morally incorrect cannot become legally correct. But we are promoting what is legally correct as if it is morally correct.What happened to our culture and traditions which do not allow this "age of consent" legislation.We are not promiscuous.Just enacting law cannot protect women; patriarchal mindsets have to change so that women achieve better status in society. Women must shake free of superstitions and traditional mindsets; the change should start from within women themselves.