Japanese Delegation Visits UP's Women Power Line 1090 To Study Women Safety Model

Lucknow, August 21: As part of the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026, a Japanese delegation visited Women Power Line 1090, Uttar Pradesh’s dedicated women’s safety helpline, on Friday. The delegation gained an understanding of the mechanisms related to women’s safety, prompt assistance on complaints, counselling services, and awareness initiatives. During the visit, officials from Uttar Pradesh and members of the Japanese delegation exchanged experiences on women’s safety, awareness at the school level, educating children about safety, and ways to build confidence among women.

During the visit, the Japanese delegation was informed that Women Power Line 1090 serves as an important mechanism for providing assistance to women facing difficult situations, fear, or harassment. The delegation showed keen interest in understanding how a woman’s concerns are assessed after she seeks help and how appropriate assistance is subsequently provided.

The Japanese delegation closely observed the functioning of 1090 and learned about the entire process, from receiving calls and understanding a woman’s concerns to providing necessary counselling and connecting her with relevant support systems whenever required.

Officials explained that in such situations, it is extremely important to listen carefully to women and provide them with a comfortable and secure environment. Particular emphasis was placed on counselling and emotional support. The delegation was informed that many women are often unable to express their concerns openly due to fear, stress, or hesitation. In such cases, trained personnel listen to them with sensitivity, understand their concerns, and work towards providing appropriate support and guidance.

During the discussions, women’s safety was viewed not only from the perspective of grievance redressal but also through the lens of preventive awareness. The Japanese delegation and Uttar Pradesh officials exchanged views on the need to educate students from an early age about safety, rights, and ways to seek help when required.

Discussions also focused on methods of developing safety awareness among children after the age of five. The participants deliberated on approaches to educating children about personal safety, communication, and seeking help from trusted individuals during difficult situations in a simple and age-appropriate manner.

Members of the Japanese delegation shared their experiences regarding women’s safety and awareness programmes in Japan. Uttar Pradesh officials, in turn, provided details about the state’s women’s safety and support mechanisms.

Both sides acknowledged that the social and institutional contexts of Japan and Uttar Pradesh are different, making it essential to understand and implement any model according to local conditions. Nevertheless, they agreed that exchanging experiences in areas such as women’s safety, child awareness, effective communication, counselling, and support services could prove beneficial for both sides.

The discussion highlighted that the objective of women’s safety is not limited to providing assistance after an incident but also includes building confidence and a sense of security among women.

When women feel assured that timely assistance is available during difficult situations, they are more comfortable speaking about their concerns and asserting their rights. The delegation observed that women’s safety, awareness, counselling, and support services are closely interconnected. Strengthening these systems can also promote greater social participation and self-reliance among women.

The visit, organised under the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026, is being seen as an important step towards strengthening the social dimension of India-Japan relations. The exchange of experiences on women’s safety and empowerment could open new avenues for cooperation in the future in areas such as awareness programmes, counselling, child safety education, and women’s support services.

While the Japanese delegation gained insights into the institutional mechanisms developed in Uttar Pradesh for women’s safety and assistance through Women Power Line 1090, the interaction also provided Uttar Pradesh officials with an opportunity to understand various approaches adopted in Japan for women’s safety and awareness.