On Tuesday, the government established a six-member committee to investigate diverse concerns concerning the queer community. This action follows the Supreme Court’s decision several months ago to decline legal recognition for same-sex marriages, emphasizing that Parliament should address the issue. The government referenced a directive from the Supreme Court last year while constituting the panel.
On October 17, 2023, the Supreme Court instructed the Central government to form a committee led by the Cabinet Secretary to address matters concerning the queer community.
The committee will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, and among its members will be the Secretary of the Department of Home, the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Secretary of the Legislative Department, and the Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
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LGBTQI and Disabled Representation Below 1% in Campaigns
On Tuesday, a report from the industry’s self-regulatory body ASCI and a UN agency underscored the absence of cultural diversity in the advertising landscape of the country.
According to the report, less than one percent of promotional campaigns feature individuals from the LGBTQI community or disabled persons, while only four percent of campaigns depict individuals aged above 65.
The Kantar study, conducted on behalf of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and UN Women’s Unstereotype Alliance, examined over 261 advertisements across 13 languages. It assessed the ads based on dimensions such as age, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, physical appearance, social class, disabilities, and religion.
The report highlighted that only 3 percent of Indian ads included representation from ethnic groups, contrasting sharply with the global average of 19 percent. Additionally, just 4 percent of Indian ads depicted diversity in skin tone, compared to the global average of 27 percent.
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