India, March 15 -- This Women's Day, the global community rallied behind the United Nations' mandate: Rights, justice, action, for all women and girls. These pillars demand urgency and systemic accountability. Yet, a foundational question remains: Can rights, justice, and action truly empower women if their physical and mental health is treated as an afterthought? Based on direct evidence from the ground, this piece examines the critical health gap that threatens to undermine even the most progressive legal and economic gains.

Rights begin with health

Globally, women and girls enjoy only about 64% of the legal rights available to men. In India, numerous government initiatives seek to improve women's access to education, livelihoods, fin...