New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS): Expressing concern over gender bias, inequality and other atrocities against women, union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the society must change its mindset towards women.

"A country cannot claim to progress where women are not safe in the society. It is not a question of man or woman, it is a matter of humanity. The community, family members must be sensitised, the cause and the solution to this issue is also within each of us," the minister said while inaugurating a conference on 'South Asian Women's Peace and Security' here.

He said the efforts of the government, the judiciary and police alone could not curb the menace.

"I cannot imagine such atrocities still happening to women in the 21st century," he said in a statement.

Rise in crimes against women in recent years was due to tightening of the legal provisions and the mandatory registration of such crimes, but this alone would not help, the minister said, observing that these crimes were a result of a "deep rooted social problem".

"India has a number of legal provisions for the protection of women, but the problem still lies in the mindset of society. We need to come together and collectively resolve this issue," he added.