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Time and again whenever some ghastly act of crime against women flares up, national level debate on safety of women against crime comes up and the society wants to enforce its demand for death penalty to such criminals. The recent case of 31 years old young female doctor of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Kolkata getting raped and murdered, raises the issue whether women are at all safe any where whether in educational institutions, work place, hospitals, streets or while even driving. The brutal crimes against women include abduction, molestation, rape, murder and their lack of safety reveals persistent failure of rule of law in India while putting a big question mark on much hyped ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao mission. As such, urgent reforms are needed to prevent recurrence of such crimes against women. Stricter penalties including death penalty and expedite trials are needed to protect the women and to make the perpetrators of crimes against women, learn a lifelong lesson.
Rising Crime Rate Against Women
- In 2016 assaults cases climbed by 60% to around 40,000 the nation, over 19,765 were instances of assault. The crime rate against women in 2022 shot up to 445,256 registered cases
- The real frequency of assault is significantly higher as many of the case go unreported
- Authorities from NGOs working ladies share that each and every day, a young lady is being sold into substance exchange.
- Authorities from stop Acid Attacks state that there are accounts of instances of corrosive assaults in the city a few times each week.
- At regular intervals a lady is assaulted in India.
National Crime Records Against Women
According to the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) 2022 report, a total of 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women were registered across India in 2022, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. It means around 51 FIRs registered every hour.
The rate of crimes against women for every one lakh population stood at 66.4, while the filing charge sheet rate was recorded at 75.8 of the registered cases.
Five Brutal Crimes Women Face Frequently
- Family Crimes: More than 31 percent crimes against women have been categorized as cruelty by husband or relatives
- Kidnapping & Abduction: More than 19 percent cases of Kidnapping and abduction were reported
- Outrage of Modesty: Around 19 percent cases have been reported of intent to outrage modesty of women in different parts of India
- Rape & Murder: Rape has accounted for 7 percent reported cases. Around equal number of such cases go unreported due to one or other reason. Cases of sexual violence against women have gone up to nearly 39,000 in 2016. In 2018 on an average one woman was raped every 15 minutes across the country. Besides, in 86 cases of Rape Juveniles were involved and in 68 cases of outraging the modesty of women Juveniles were involved.
- Harassment at Work Place: India has seen over 500 cases of Sexual harassment at work place every year since 2018, with an average of 445 cases being reported yearly.
State Wise Crime Rate against Women
The state wise data reveal that Delhi has the highest crime rate against women as reflected in state wise rate of crime against women
- Delhi: In 2022, Delhi had the highest rate of crimes against women, with 144 crimes on every lakh of population. There were 14,247 cases reported in 2022.
- Uttar Pradesh: In 2022, Uttar Pradesh had registered the highest number 65,743 FIRs of crimes against women, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal.
Conviction Rate
The sad situation is that the conviction rate is dormant at around 25% despite high number of crimes against women. As such Crime against women in India remains a deeply concerning issue, challenging the nation's progress towards gender equality and social justice. The brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata highlights the current inadequacies in enforcing women safety measures. Despite legislative measures and growing awareness, the incidence of violence against women continues to be alarmingly high. From domestic violence and sexual assault to dowry-related crimes and human trafficking, women in India face a wide spectrum of threats to their safety, dignity, and well-being.
In recent years, the rising crime rate, particularly violent crimes against women has made the criminal sentencing by the courts a subject of concern. According to the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Dattu “The sentencing policy adopted by the Courts, in such cases, ought to have a stricter yardstick so as to act as a deterrent. There are a shockingly large number of cases where the sentence of punishment awarded to the accused is not in proportion to the gravity and magnitude of the offence thereby encouraging the criminal and in the ultimate making justice suffer by weakening the system’s credibility.”
10 Challenges in Addressing Crime Against Women
- Orthodox Societal Traditions: Patriarchal values that view women as subordinate contribute to a culture of violence. Even in the domestic violence, leading to severe crimes against women, including sexual assault or murder, the women are held responsible. Khap Panchayats often enforce rigid gender norms and endorse practices that undermine women's autonomy.
- Exploitation at Workplace: Despite the enactment of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, India continues to grapple with rampant cases of sexual harassment and exploitation of women in various work environments. The NCRB data reveals an average of over 400 cases of sexual harassment at work being reported annually. The recent report of Justice Hema Committee on examining workplace conditions in Malayalam film industry reveals a pervasive culture of sexual exploitation in the industry, highlighting evere gender disparities in pay and inadequate workplace protections, including ineffective internal complaints committees.
- Lack of Safe Public Spaces: Unsafe public spaces increase women’s vulnerability to crime. The lack of safe and well-lit streets, and inadequate public transport, can lead to harassment and assaults. For instance, the Delhi Nirbhaya 2012 gang rape incident occurred in a poorly lit area of the city, highlighting the dangers of inadequate public safety measures.
- Lack Infrastructure and Resources: Many areas lack the necessary infrastructure, such as functional police stations, forensic labs, and emergency services, to handle and investigate crimes effectively.
- Weak Law Enforcement and Judicial Systems: Inefficiencies in the legal system are unable to prevent effective justice. The delay in the trial of Nirbhaya’s case and the initial leniency towards the accused reflect systemic issues within law enforcement and the judiciary.
- Low Conviction Rate: In cases of sexual assault and domestic violence India has a low conviction rate which demonstrates the shortcomings in enforcing laws. NCRB data reveal the conviction rate for rape ranged from 25 to 28% in the 2018-2022 period.
- Corruption-a Major Issue: Corruption within the legal and law enforcement systems impede efforts to combat crimes against women, as bribery and misconduct lead to mishandling or dismissal of cases. In several rape cases, as allegedly happened in recent Badlapur sexual assault case, police delayed FIR filing.
- Blame on Victim – A Social Stigma: The attitude of the society to blame the victim discourage women from reporting crimes. In cases where women are assaulted or raped, they often face stigma and blame from their communities or even from law enforcement agencies. For instance, politicians often make irresponsible and loose comments on rape incidents and victims, sometimes trivializing the severity of the crimes or placing undue blame on the survivors.
- Gender inequality & Cultural Attitudes: Disparities in education, employment opportunities, and decision-making power and traditional beliefs and practices contribute to women's vulnerability. In some communities, practices like child marriage and restrictions on women's mobility are common, reflecting deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes. Also, the dowry system has led to numerous cases of dowry deaths and domestic violence.
- Lack of Awareness and Education: Limited education about women’s rights and legal protections can leave women unprotected. Traditional beliefs and limited access to education can deter women from reporting crimes or seeking justice, as seen in cases where victims of domestic violence remain silent due to ignorance.
- Economic Dependency: Women who are economically dependent on male family members may find it difficult to escape abusive situations. Many women in lower-income families face financial dependency on their husbands, which can trap them in abusive relationships.
- Technological and Cyber Threats: With the rise of digital platforms, women face new forms of harassment and abuse online. Cyberbullying, stalking, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images are increasingly common issues that require updated legal and technical solutions.
Safety of Women Against Crime: Efforts Made So far
For the safety and security of women and girls, although many legal initiatives and laws have been framed to increase accountability of police and other officials dealing with violence against women, which has had a positive impact. However, it appears not enough has been done so far. Key initiatives taken are as below:
Legal Initiatives and Framework
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: Framed on the basis of Vishakha Guidelines of the Supreme Court, this act aims to create a safe working environment for women. It mandates the creation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in organizations with over 10 employees, defines sexual harassment, and sets procedures for filing and investigating complaints. The Act provides a comprehensive framework to prevent and address sexual harassment at work, ensuring protection and redressal for women.
- Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013: Also known as the Nirbhaya Act, it strengthened penalties for sexual offenses, introduces the death penalty for repeat rape offenders, and enhances provisions for the protection of survivors, including stricter definitions and punishments for crimes such as rape, stalking, and harassment. The act defined new terms such as stalking and voyeurism as crimes with the minimum sentence of rape changed from seven to ten years.
- Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, was enacted to impose stricter penalties, including the death penalty for the rape of a girl under 12 years of age. The Act also requires that investigations and trials be completed within two months each.
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO): Passed in 2012, it comprehensively deals with the issue of sexual offences against children. POCSO not only provides for the punishments for offences, but also sets out a system for support of victims and improved methods for catching offenders.
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: This legislation aims to prevent child marriages, which disproportionately affect young girls, by setting the legal age of marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men.
- The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: This landmark legislation provides a comprehensive definition of domestic violence and offers civil remedies to protect women from abuse within the home.
- The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986: It prohibits the indecent representation of women in various forms, including advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITP) of 1956: It aims to prevent the commercialization of vices and trafficking of women by outlining the legal framework that prohibits running brothels and soliciting, while recognizing the legality of engaging in prostitution itself.
Government Initiatives
- Nirbhaya Fund: The Government established the Nirbhaya Fund to support projects enhancing the safety and security of women. The Ministry of Women and Child Development serves as the nodal authority for reviewing and recommending proposals and schemes for funding under this fund.
- One Stop Centres and Women Helplines: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has introduced One Stop Centres to provide integrated support to women affected by violence and a scheme for the Universalisation of Women Helplines to offer 24-hour emergency and non-emergency assistance.
- Mahila Police Volunteers: It involves the deployment of Mahila Police Volunteers in States/UTs, who serve as intermediaries between the police and the community, providing assistance to women in distress.
- 4. Swadhar Greh Scheme: The Ministry of Women and Child Development administers the scheme, aimed at assisting women facing challenging circumstances who require institutional support for their rehabilitation. The scheme provides shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, and ensures economic and social security to help these women live with dignity.
- Working Women Hostel Scheme: The Government implements this scheme to offer safe and conveniently located housing for working women. The scheme also aims to provide day care facilities for their children, where feasible, in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas with employment opportunities for women.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): The scheme aims to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, to ensure survival and protection of the girl child and to ensure education and participation of the girl child.
- Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences: In 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the "Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences" to assist States and Union Territories in monitoring and tracking time-bound investigations in sexual assault cases, as mandated by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
- Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): It provides a single emergency number (112) and computer-aided dispatch of field resources to distress locations.
- Safe City Projects: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Nirbhaya Fund, aimed at creating a safe, secure, and empowering environment for women and girls in public spaces.
- Awareness Programs: The Government conducts awareness programs and publicity campaigns on women’s rights through workshops, cultural events, seminars, training programs, and media advertisements.
Not Enough Done for Women’s Safety in India: Way Forward
Although many initiatives are taken but the change is slow and studies suggest that a large number of rapes in India still go unreported. Strict preventive actions and laws for Women’s safety in India would yield positive impact in reducing the crime only when they are accompanied with a change in the attitudes of the police, judiciary, government officers and society. So, What Should be the Way Forward? Check below
- Strict Execution of Law: Existing laws and policies need to be implemented more effectively. This requires better training of law enforcement personnel, streamlining judicial processes, and ensuring accountability at all levels.
- Fast-Track Courts: Establish fast-track courts and enhance punishment for grave cases like rape, as recommended by Justice Verma Committee. Increase women's representation in the judiciary.
- Gender Sensitization: Comprehensive gender sensitization programs should be introduced in schools, colleges, and workplaces to address the root causes of gender-based violence and discrimination.
- Police Training: Improve training for police officers to handle gender-based violence cases more sensitively and effectively. This includes better evidence collection, victim support, and case documentation.
For example, implementing specialized police units like SHE Teams, a division of Telangana Police, for enhanced safety and security of women.
- Improved Survivor Support Systems: Expand and enhance support systems for survivors of violence, including counseling services, rehabilitation programs, and economic assistance to help them rebuild their lives.
- Women Economic Empowerment: Promote women's economic independence through education, skill development, and employment opportunities. Financial autonomy can reduce women's vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
- Technology Utilization: Leverage technology for better reporting and tracking of crimes against women. This could include user-friendly mobile apps for reporting crimes and AI-powered systems for data analysis.
- Increased Women's Representation: Boost the representation of women in law enforcement and the judiciary to bring diverse perspectives and potentially improve the handling of gender-based violence cases.
- Regular Impact Assessments: Conduct periodic evaluations of existing schemes and policies to assess their effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.
- Media Responsibility: Encourage responsible reporting of crimes against women in the media, focusing on systemic issues rather than sensationalism.
Government’s Recent Instructions
In response to the recent rape and murder mishap in Kolkata, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all Central Government-run hospitals and major health institutes to enhance their security measures to address vulnerabilities while ensuring accessibility and safety for healthcare professionals and patients. The ministry's instruction outlines 12 key recommendations, including the installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras, setting up control rooms for emergency response, and ensuring secure duty rooms and transport for female health professionals. It emphasizes the need for well-trained security guards, restricted access to sensitive areas, and comprehensive emergency plans. Additionally, the instructions call for improved lighting, regular security training for staff, and coordination with local police and emergency services.
A group from National Commission for Women also requested capital punishment for those who indulge in severe crimes against women. A few ideological groups and media stations have also praised the decision of Capital punishment for perpetrators of crime against women.
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