Context:

• This article is based on a news “There was no humanity’: Man who helped MP rape victim who went door to door seeking help” which was published in the Indian Express. Recently, a minor girl was raped in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district and was in search of help while no one came to her aid. The icident highlighting the urgent need for enhanced women safety measures.

Dark Realities of Women Safety in India

• Similar instances were seen in other places in India as well. For instance, two tribal women were paraded naked in Manipur, a teen girl stabbed on the streets of Delhi etc.
• ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. State Governments are thus responsible for safety and security of the citizens including women and girls.

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About Women Safety

• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2021 data, India saw a total of 4,28,278 instances of crimes against women in 2021.
• As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), around 30% of women in India between the ages of 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual or domestic violence. 
• Women safety involves strategies, practices and policies which aim to reduce violence against women, including women’s fear of crime.
• The most common forms of gender-based violence includes: 
  • Domestic violence including partner violence.
  • Sexual violence including rape, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking.
  • Women safety in public spaces including public transportation.
• Other recurrent forms of violence are forced evictions from property, femicide, missing women, honor crimes, harmful traditional practices, violence against women in times of war, murder and gun violence.

Issues Associated with Women Safety in India:

• Pre-Birth:
  • Female Foeticide: It is the intentional killing of baby girls in a fetus by undergoing abortion, due to the son-meta preference and from the low value associated with the birth of females.
• Infancy and Childhood:
  • Deep-Rooted Gender Inequality: Traditional gender roles and patriarchal norms contribute to the perpetuation of unequal power dynamics. Gender Disparities in Education: Limited access to quality education can perpetuate cycles of inequality and limit women’s economic and social mobility.
  • Child Marriage: According to the UNICEF, one in three of the world’s child brides live in India. Despite legislations prohibiting child marriages, it is still carried openly in several regions. For instance, Akshay tritiya (Hindu festival) is popular for mass child marriages in India.
• Adolescence and Adulthood:
  • Online abuse: Online harassment, abuse, and trolling is a common practice making the internet unsafe for women. New challenges related to the women safety are cyberbullying, online harassment, and revenge porn are also rising. 
    • For instance, Sulli deals is a website which auctioned muslim women pictures and had more than 100 twitter accounts of women.
  • Domestic Violence: Cruelty by husband is amongst the top crimes against women. Cultural norms and stigma often deter victims from reporting incidents, and inadequate legal frameworks contribute to a lack of justice. 
  • Sexual Violence: 
    • Nearly one-third of women in India have experienced physical or sexual violence, finds the NFHS-5 report. 
    • According to the NCRB, India lodged average 86 rapes daily, 49 offences against women per hour in 2021.
  • Honor Killings: Act of murder committed by male family members against female family members who are perceived to have brought dishonor upon the family.
• Elderly:
  • Lack of Access to Healthcare: Limited access to healthcare facilities and cultural taboos surrounding women’s health contribute to health disparities. 

Also read: UN Guidance call to protect Children’s Rights

What are the legal measures for women safety?

• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: It was enacted to prescribe more stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of a girl below the age of 12 years. The Act also mandates completion of investigation and trials within 2 months each.

• The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act to approve death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gangrape. 
• Movements and campaigns like #CallItOut because #ItsNotOK campaign, #MeToo movement, facilitate knowledge transfer and coordinate efforts towards the prevention of harassment against women. 
• Justice Verma Committee: It was formed days after the horrific Nirbhaya gangrape case in Delhi. It recommended enhanced punishment, including imprisoning one for the remainder of his life in grave cases like rape. 
  • The Commission had argued against executions, viewing it as a regressive step even in rarest of rare cases.  
• Preventing Online Abuse: New IT Rules to deal with Cyber-violence, Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme.
• Railway Protection Force: Meri Saheli initiative ensures security of lady passengers that are traveling by train by a dedicated Mahila officers team.
• Pink booths: They have been established in areas of Delhi with high footfall to provide women with safe public zones.

Also read: Child, law, and Consensual Sex

Way Forward related to Women safety in India:

• Leadership and Income Generating Skills:  Assist women in the sustainable establishment of income generating activities to be undertaken in or near the home. 
  • For instance, Self Help Groups (SHG) such as Mahila Arthik Vikas MahilaMandal, UMED Abhiyan under Maharashtra’s have proven beneficial in the development of women entrepreneurship.
• Women’s Role in Decision-Making: There is evidence that having more women in public and private decision making increases the general level of public sector effectiveness and accountability in a country. 
• Women’s Access to Health Services: Address issues related to reproductive health, maternal deaths, malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases through quality and affordable health services under universal health coverage. 
  • For instance, access to contraception can help in ensuring good sexual and reproductive health. Involving Men in Women Safety: Men have their share of responsibility in creating a safe and inclusive environment for all, including women. 

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• • For this, gender sensitization programmes should be organised at schools, colleges and public places. 
• Empowering Women Sex Workers: Although sex work is technically legal in India, several aspects of the work (such as offering prostitute services) are criminalised and female sex workers are still heavily stigmatised in society which creates a culture of silence around sex work. 
  • The Taaras coalition  is a national platform in India for marginalised women aims to break this silence by creating a nation-wide platform for women in sex work.
• Raising Awareness: Sistren Theater Collective in Jamaica uses performing arts as a way of engaging the community to confront violence against women.

Conclusion

Ensuring women safety in India in line with SDG Goal 5 (Gender Equality) which specifically targets achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, addressing issues like violence and discrimination can help in ensuring the prosperity of nations and progress of societies.