Women's Safety in India - UPSC

Women’s safety in India is a critical issue that affects millions of women across the country. Despite progress in various areas, many women still face threats to their safety in public and private spaces. Concerns range from street harassment and workplace discrimination to domestic violence and sexual assault. Ensuring women’s safety is not just about legal measures but also involves changing societal attitudes, improving law enforcement, and creating safe environments where women can live and work without fear. Addressing this issue is essential for building a more just and equitable society.

Tags: GS – 1, Social Issues- Social Empowerment– Women’s Issues, GS – 2, Gender– Issues Related to Women– Government Policies & Interventions

For Prelims: Crime Against Women,National Crime Records Bureau’s Annual Reports, Sexual Harassment, Supreme Court, Domestic Violence, Investigation Tracking System For Sexual Offences, Justice Verma Committee, Representation of Women in Law Enforcement and the Judiciary.

For Mains: Significance of Government Policies & Interventions in Addressing Issues Related to Women.

Table of Contents

Context:

Recently, the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata underscores significant shortcomings in women’s safety measures.
Despite legislative progress and heightened awareness, violence against women remains alarmingly high, covering domestic violence, sexual assault, dowry-related crimes, and human trafficking.
Deeply ingrained patriarchal norms, economic disparities, and cultural practices contribute to persistent gender-based violence.
Urban areas report higher incidents due to increased awareness, while rural regions face underreporting driven by stigma and limited support systems.

Statistics on Women’s Safety:

Overall Statistics:
- In 2022, India registered 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women, a 4% increase from the previous year, equating to approximately 51 FIRs per hour.
- The crime rate per lakh population was 66.4, with a charge sheet filing rate of 75.8.
Types of Crimes:
- Cruelty by husband or relatives: 31.4% of cases.
- Kidnapping and abduction: 19.2%.
- Assault with intent to outrage modesty: 18.7%.
- Rape: 7.1%.
- Sexual violence peaked at nearly 39,000 incidents in 2016, with an average of one rape every 15 minutes in 2018.
- Over 400 cases of sexual harassment at work have been reported annually since 2018.
Juvenile Involvement:
- Rape cases involving juveniles: 86.
- Outraging modesty cases involving juveniles: 68.
State-wise Data:
- Delhi: Highest crime rate at 144.4 per lakh population, with 14,247 cases in 2022.
- Uttar Pradesh: Highest number of cases with 65,743 FIRs, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.

Challenges in Addressing Crime Against Women:

Patriarchal Societal Norms:
- Deep-rooted patriarchal values view women as subordinate, fostering a culture of violence. For example, Khap Panchayats enforce rigid gender norms that undermine women’s autonomy.
Exploitation at Workplace:
- Despite the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, sexual harassment remains prevalent.
- NCRB reports over 400 annual cases of workplace harassment, with significant issues in industries like Malayalam cinema, revealing severe gender disparities and inadequate protections.
Lack of Safe Public Spaces:
- Unsafe and poorly lit public spaces increase women’s vulnerability. The 2012 Delhi gang rape highlighted the dangers of inadequate public safety measures.
Insufficient Infrastructure and Resources:
- Many areas lack essential infrastructure, such as functional police stations and forensic labs, affecting crime investigation and response.
Weak Law Enforcement and Judicial Systems:
- Inefficiencies in the legal system, including delays and leniency in high-profile cases, hinder justice.
- NCRB data shows a low conviction rate for rape, ranging from 27 to 28% from 2018 to 2022.
Social Stigma and Victim Blaming:
- Victim-blaming discourages reporting. Victims often face stigma and blame from communities and law enforcement, exacerbated by insensitive comments from politicians.
Gender Inequality & Cultural Attitudes:
- Gender disparities in education, employment, and decision-making, along with practices like child marriage and the dowry system, increase women’s vulnerability to violence.
Others:
- Economic reliance on male family members can trap women in abusive relationships, particularly in lower-income families.
- Domestic violence often escalates to more severe crimes, including sexual assault and murder.
- The rise of digital platforms has introduced new forms of harassment, such as cyberbullying and non-consensual image sharing, requiring updated legal and technical solutions.
- False rape accusations can undermine the credibility of genuine victims, deterring reporting and complicating legal proceedings.

Legal Framework:

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013: Based on Vishakha Guidelines, mandates Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) for organizations with over 10 employees, defines sexual harassment, and outlines complaint procedures.
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 (Nirbhaya Act): The 2018 amendment added harsher penalties for rapes involving girls under 12 and mandates swift investigations and trials.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012: Addresses sexual offences against children with punishments for offenders and victim support systems.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Sets legal marriage age at 18 for women and 21 for men to prevent child marriages.
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: Provides a comprehensive definition of domestic violence and civil remedies for abuse within the home.
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: Prohibits indecent representation of women in media and publications.
Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITP), 1956: Prevents the commercialization and trafficking of women, prohibits brothels and soliciting, while regulating prostitution itself.

Judicial Interventions:

Joseph Shine vs. Union of India (2018): Decriminalised adultery, overturning a colonial-era law that controlled women’s sexuality.
Independent Thought vs. Union of India (2017): Criminalized marital rape for girls under 18, closing a major gap in child protection laws.
Laxmi vs. Union of India (2014): Addressed acid attacks, directing regulation of acid sales and improved compensation and care for survivors.
Delhi Gang Rape Case (Nirbhaya Case) (2012): Led to major amendments in criminal laws, including stricter penalties for sexual offenses following the Delhi gang rape and murder.
Lillu vs. State of Haryana (2013): Ruled that the two-finger test breaches the rape survivor’s privacy, physical, and mental integrity.
CEHAT vs. Union of India (2003): Addressed female foeticide and enforced the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, condemning female foeticide as violence against women.
Vishakha and Others vs. State of Rajasthan (1997): Established Vishakha Guidelines to prevent workplace sexual harassment and provide a framework for employers.
Delhi Domestic Working Women’s Forum vs. Union of India: Recognized rape as a severe violation of human rights and mandated compensation for survivors, reinforcing their rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Government Initiatives:

Nirbhaya Fund: Established to fund projects aimed at improving women’s safety and security. The Ministry of Women and Child Development reviews and approves proposals for funding.
One Stop Centres and Women Helplines: Provide integrated support to women affected by violence and offer 24-hour emergency and non-emergency assistance through universal helplines.
Mahila Police Volunteers: Volunteers are deployed to act as intermediaries between the police and the community, assisting women in distress.
Swadhar Greh Scheme: Supports women facing challenging circumstances by providing shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, and economic and social security for rehabilitation and dignity.
Working Women Hostel Scheme: Provides safe, conveniently located housing for working women and, where possible, day care facilities for their children in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Prevents gender-biased sex-selective elimination, ensures the protection and survival of the girl child, and promotes her education and participation.
Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences: In 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced this system to monitor and track timely investigations of sexual assault cases, as per the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): Provides a unified emergency number (112) and coordinates dispatch of resources to distress locations.
Safe City Projects: An initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Nirbhaya Fund to create safer, more secure public spaces for women and girls.

Conclusion

Addressing crimes against women in India requires a multi-faceted approach to tackle entrenched societal issues. The alarming NCRB statistics highlight the need for stronger implementation of laws, better gender sensitization, and improved support for survivors. A united effort is essential to create a safer, more equitable environment and advance towards gender equality and social justice.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q:1 Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for Women’s development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements: (2010)

Swayam Siddha is meant for those in difficult circumstances such as women survivors of natural disasters or terrorism, women prisoners released from jails, mentally challenged women etc., whereas Swadhar is meant for holistic empowerment of women through Self Help Groups.
Swayam Siddha is implemented through Local Self Government bodies or reputed Voluntary Organizations whereas Swadhar is implemented through the ICDS units set up in the states.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (d)

Mains:

Q:1 Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face in both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2017)

Q:2 Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalisation on women in India. (2015)

Source: IE

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