Sarah Rizvi: The First Muslim Woman IPS Officer Of Gujarat Cadre
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 March 2026
· Sarah Rizvi: The first Muslim woman IPS officer of Gujarat cadre
· UN Reporter Calls on Afghanistan to Reopen Schools and Universities for Girls
· Study reveals women’s representation in redress commissions declined to 6% between 2021 and 2025
· Afghan Women Must Be Included In Decision-Making, Says France's Envoy
· Syrian activist urges unified women’s voice for rights
· UNESCO Calls for Women’s Inclusion in Water Management on World Water Day
· Cybercrimes against women go up in 5 years in India
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Sarah Rizvi: The first Muslim woman IPS officer of Gujarat cadre
Ehsan Fazili
23-03-2026
Sarah Rizvi, IG, J&K Police
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Coming from the culturally rich Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, Sarah Rizvi was brought up in Mumbai, where she studied and was inspired to opt for civil services; however, through a life full of challenges.
The 2008 batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, she is presently posted as Inspector General (IG) of Udhampur-Reasi Police range in Jammu and Kashmir, on an inter-cadre deputation. She took over in April 2025.
Having served at various important positions in Gujarat as well as in J&K and accomplishing challenging tasks, she was promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Police in January.
Sarah Rizvi is the only woman Police officer in J&K holding the DIG rank. Despite being from the family of teachers, scholars, doctors and engineers, she had been inspired by her maternal grandfather to be more socially responsible.
For some reason, she was brought up at the home of her maternal grandfather, a Lawyer by profession. A Young Sarah was greatly inspired by her grandfather to take social responsibility as her aim and serve the society.
She completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree and joined a job in a private company to overcome the financial constraints, and to sustain and prepare for the civil services examination.
Her aim was to qualify the civil services. She continued to deal with financial constrains in the meanwhile dealt with it by giving tuitions. She cleared the coveted examination in her third attempt in 2008. She became the first Muslim woman IPS officer of Gujarat cadre.
As she began to settle down while working as a civil services officer, she lost her husband to Covid. This loss posed yet another challenge in her personal life.
She is now a single mother looking after her five-year old daughter and putting in all her efforts in the services and duties assigned. To overcome the distractions in her personal life, she prioritized challenging tasks and, therefore, got inter-cadre deputation to J&K from Gujarat in 2022.
Prior to her present position, Sarah Rizvi, served as SSP Training, Bureau of Police Research and Development, served as DIG, Administration, Police Headquarters, J&K between 2022 and 2023. She was later posted as DIG IRP (Indian Reserve Police) in Jammu and Kashmir with Additional charge of DIG Training, Police headquarters. Before shifting to J&K Sarah Rizvi served in Gujarat as ASP, Rajkot (Rural), SSP, Jamnagar, DCP, Rajkot City, Assistant Director, Kashmir Desk in Intelligence Bureau, and Head of Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, Gangtok, Sikkim.
Some of her important assignments included Assembly elections of Gujarat 2012 when she was posted as SSP Jamnagar, Lok Sabha elections 2014 as DCP Rajkot City; handling of Gorkhaland agitation in Sikkim and West Bengal during 2016-2017; handling of Doklam conflict between India and China in 2017; and as Nodal Officer Election Expenditure UT of J&K for Lok Sabha elections, 2024 and Assembly elections of 2024.
Commendations and appreciations for her distinguished services include Police Special Duty Medal and Ist Bar 2019; Police Antrik Suraksha Sewa Padak, 2019; Commendation from Director, Intelligence Bureau and DG, BPR&D; DGP J&K Commendation for outstanding duties 2023; and Commendation from LG Union Territory of J&K for outstanding duties as Nodal Officer for Lok Sabha and UT J&K Assembly elections 2024.
Source: awazthevoice.in
https://www.awazthevoice.in/-news/sarah-rizvi-the-first-muslim-woman-ips-officer-of-gujarat-cadre-54931.html
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UN Reporter Calls on Afghanistan to Reopen Schools and Universities for Girls
By Fidel Rahmati
March 23, 2026
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed concern over the continued denial of education for girls beyond grade six as Afghanistan enters the new year. He highlighted this issue in a Nowruz greeting shared on X on Sunday, March 22.
Bennett emphasized that not only schoolgirls but also female university students are barred from attending higher education. He called on Taliban authorities to lift these restrictions without delay.
“Nowruz Mubarak to all who celebrate! I note that only #afghanistan this marks the beginning of another school year in which girls beyond 6th grade will not be allowed to continue education at school & women will not be able to attend university. Unacceptable & must be reversed!,” Bennett said.
International organizations consistently warn that denying girls education affects not only their personal futures but also has broader social and economic consequences for Afghanistan society as a whole.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, they have imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls, barring them from schools and universities, undermining decades of progress in female education.
Afghanistan once had one of the fastest-growing rates of female education in the region, with millions of girls enrolled in schools before the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Globally, access to education for girls is recognized as a key driver of economic growth, social stability, and human rights, making Afghanistan’s restrictions a source of international concern.
The UN and international community continue to call for immediate action to restore educational opportunities for Afghan girls, stressing that lifting these restrictions is critical for both human rights and national development.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/un-reporter-calls-on-afghanistan-to-reopen-schools-and-universities-for-girls/
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Study reveals women’s representation in redress commissions declined to 6% between 2021 and 2025
Amiya Kumar Kushwaha
23.03.26
The representation of women in state consumer dispute redressal commissions (SCDRCs) declined to 6 per cent between 2021 and 2025 and the presence of women presidents remained very low throughout the last five years, a study has revealed.
The findings released by the India Justice Report (IJR) analysed gender-wise details of presidents and/or members of 14 SCDRCs that shared data between 2021 and 2025.
IJR is a research organisation that assesses justice delivery systems in the country based on parliamentary questions and RTI responses.
“Women’s share among these SCDRCs declined from an average of 35 per cent in 2021 to 29 per cent in 2025. The lowest share reported was in 2024, at 23.2 per cent,” the report stated.
The presence of women presidents has remained very low throughout the last five years. All 11 SCDRCs that shared data on their presidents did not have a woman president in 2024 and 2025, barring Delhi. Only Delhi and Odisha reported having a woman president for at least two years during this period. Kerala has not had a woman president in the last five years.
“Most SCDRCs comply with the minimum statutory requirement of having one woman. Although the share of women presidents is negligible among the 14 SCDRCs who provided a gender break-up of members, nine SCDRCs, including Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Odisha and Delhi, have consistently had at least one woman member or a president in the last five years,” the report said.
Gujarat, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh had the lowest representation of women in SCDRCs, it added.
The report also flagged staff crunch in consumer commissions. Across the 20 SCDRCs that provided data, on average, one in five staff positions was vacant.
Vacancies ranged from 12.2 per cent in Himachal Pradesh to more than 33 per cent in five states and Union Territories.
Jharkhand recorded the highest staff vacancy, with 64 per cent of total staff posts vacant. Only six SCDRCs functioned without any staff vacancy.
In Puducherry and Delhi, 40 per cent or more positions were unfilled.
According to the report, the Consumer Protection Act mandated a total of 38 staff positions, including 10 peons, in SCDRCs. Moreover, for every 250 pending cases, there should be one assistant and one clerk, thereby taking the minimum strength to 40, the report said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/study-glare-on-gender-gap-in-state-consumer-dispute-redress-commissions-women-representation-falls-to-six-percent-prnt/cid/2152642
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Afghan Women Must Be Included In Decision-Making, Says France's Envoy
March 23, 2026
France’s ambassador for human rights said Afghan women must be included in all decision-making processes and that Paris rejects any dialogue with the Taliban.
Isabelle Rome said France condemns restrictions imposed by the Taliban that target women’s fundamental rights and access to public spaces.
In a post on X on Sunday, Rome thanked Belgian senator Viviane Teitelbaum for organising a meeting in the Belgian Senate in support of Afghan women.
The remarks come after Afghan activists and political figures gathered at a two-day meeting in the European Parliament and the Belgian Senate. Taliban opponents at the meeting sought to persuade European leaders that the group has not changed and is not a suitable government for Afghanistan.
Rome said Afghan women are not victims but survivors and fighters, adding that they must have a seat at the table in every decision affecting their future.
She also noted that France, along with five other countries, has supported efforts by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants for Taliban leaders and has backed the creation of investigative mechanisms to document alleged crimes.
Source: afintl.com
https://www.afintl.com/en/202603239055
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Syrian activist urges unified women’s voice for rights
23 March, 2026
Ster Qasim, activist and member of the Women’s Council in North and East Syria, spoke to our agency about Syrian women’s rights and the importance of their participation in drafting the new constitution.
She stressed that the new Syrian constitution must respect ethnic, racial, national, and social diversity, stating:
“Women are part of society, and constitutional provisions should be clear to guarantee women’s rights while aligning with international laws and norms.”
Political Participation
Qasim highlighted Syrian women’s demands:
“Women must participate in decision-making bodies, legislative councils, and all economic activities. They should also be part of the recovery phase and the revitalization of the country’s economy.”
She explained that every constitution has laws and executive regulations, and implementing its provisions requires courts that protect constitutional principles. The new Syrian constitution must provide this protection, with its provisions translated into enforceable laws and subject to supervision to ensure they do not remain mere formalities.
Qasim also emphasized fair representation of women in the constitutional drafting committee, reflecting their historical struggle and sacrifices in the Syrian revolution. She called for a quota system to ensure no group loses its rights, whether based on social, ethnic, or religious grounds.
She stressed the importance of real guarantees for women’s rights and participation proportional to their population, along with a safe environment that allows them to exercise political rights in all fields.
Qasim warned that the absence of clear constitutional guarantees for women’s rights would have “catastrophic” consequences, noting:
“We see that the constitutional declaration does not guarantee women’s rights in any of its articles. Decrees issued by the interim government discriminate against them, alongside ongoing violations in various regions without accountability, which makes the consequences catastrophic.
Ongoing Struggle
She added that Syrian women need a state governed by a national constitution and the rule of law, where laws are applied to everyone without exception, enabling women to play a more effective role in society, free from oppression, exclusion, and marginalization.
Despite 14 years of displacement, destruction, and migration, women’s rights must reflect their historical struggle. Qasim emphasized that women continue their work without pause to secure these rights.
Concluding her remarks, she said:
“In this sensitive stage that Syria—and especially women—are going through, we hope to change a reality that sidelines and marginalizes them in unprecedented ways. We call on Syrian women in all regions to unify their voices. The issue is one: women’s rights are part of democracy and human rights, and any state or constitution that does not guarantee women’s rights cannot be considered democratic or national.”
ANHA
Source: hawarnews.com
https://hawarnews.com/en/syrian-activist-urges-unified-womens-voice-for-rights
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UNESCO Calls for Women’s Inclusion in Water Management on World Water Day
By Fidel Rahmati
March 22, 2026
The UNESCO says women and girls play a key role in securing water for families worldwide, yet remain underrepresented in water management and leadership positions.
Marking World Water Day, the agency stressed the need for equal participation of women in managing water resources to achieve inclusive and sustainable solutions.
UNESCO noted that while water is essential for life, inequalities continue to shape access to this critical resource across many regions.
The statement comes as millions still face water shortages, including in Afghanistan, where access to clean drinking water remains a major challenge.
According to UNICEF, nearly one-third of Afghanistan’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, with women bearing the burden of daily water-related tasks.
United Nations designated March 22 as World Water Day to raise awareness about the importance of water and promote sustainable management of water resources globally.
In rural Afghanistan, limited infrastructure forces women to take responsibility for water collection, cooking, washing, and childcare, increasing their physical and emotional strain.
UNESCO’s call highlights the urgent need to address both water scarcity and gender inequality, as improving women’s role in water management could lead to more effective and equitable solutions worldwide.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/unesco-calls-for-womens-inclusion-in-water-management-on-world-water-day/
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Cybercrimes against women go up in 5 years
Vismay Basu
23 Mar 2026
NEW DELHI: Cybercrime complaints against women have nearly doubled in five years, crossing 2.5 lakh in 2025. Data presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to a Rajya Sabha question asked by Kanimozhi Somu shows that online and social media crimes —covering cyberstalking, impersonation, identity theft, and harassment—surged 140%, from 72,301 complaints in 2021 to 1,73,766 in 2025.
Sexual-content-related categories rose 47% over the same period. Taken together, complaints have gone from 1,24,349 to 2,50,423 — effectively doubling within five years.
Within these numbers, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) complaints rose nearly fivefold, from 2,109 in 2021 to 10,431 in 2025. Fake profile and impersonation cases are up nearly 200%, reaching 46,784. Sexually obscene content complaints more than tripled to 37,743. Identity theft jumped 224%, climbing to 34,533 cases.
Cyberbullying, stalking, and sexting complaints doubled to 45,832. The sharp rise across these categories points to the growing exploitation of social media ecosystems — platforms where fake identities can be constructed quickly, harmful content circulates at scale, and victims often have limited recourse.
A notable anomaly cuts through this otherwise upward trend: rape-content complaints collapsed from 30,574 in 2022 to 4,261 in 2024 before partially recovering to 8,780 in 2025 — suggesting reclassification of offences rather than a genuine decline. A broad dip across all categories in 2023, followed by a sharp rebound, raises further questions about consistency in reporting or data categorisation.
The government’s response foregrounds institutional inputs: `132.93 crore allocated under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme, cyber forensic laboratories established in 33 states and union territories, and over 24,600 trained law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers.
The MP explicitly sought state-wise data on cases resolved, cases pending, and average resolution time. The government’s reply addresses none of it — no FIR conversion rates, no prosecution data, no conviction figures. The absence of enforcement metrics is not a technicality.
Source: newindianexpress.com
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Mar/23/cybercrimes-against-women-go-up-in-5-years
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