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SILENT SUFFERING: THE HARSH REALITY OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
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SILENT SUFFERING: THE HARSH REALITY OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
AUTHORED BY - BHOOMIKA RANKA
Abstract:
In this Article,
"Silent Suffering: The Harsh Reality of Crimes Against Women,"
Bhoomika Ranka explores the widespread problem of violence against women and
girls, which continues to be a grave human rights violation on a global scale.
This Report highlights the
many types of gender-based violence, such as femicide, intimate relationship
violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, the study also emphasises the
structural causes of these problems, such as economic inequality and
patriarchal standards.
The study highlights the
concerning data on crimes against women in India, where victims are frequently
discouraged from pursuing justice due to cultural shame.
It talks on how this kind
of violence affects women's health, financial security, and general involvement
in society.
The report also examines
current legislative frameworks intended to safeguard women's rights and
pinpoints enforcement flaws that fuel ongoing violence.
Ranka promotes all-encompassing solutions that go beyond legal actions, calling for women's empowerment, solidarity with other movements, and public awareness.
The conclusion asserts
that in order to combat violence against women, create a social climate that
supports gender equality, and eradicate these injustices, multifaceted
preventative tactics are crucial.
[1]Introduction:
One of the most pervasive
violations of human rights worldwide is violence against women and girls, which
happens every day, many times a day, everywhere. It limits girls' and women's
active and equal involvement in society and has serious short- and long-term
health, economic, and psychological effects.
It is impossible to
quantify the magnitude of its effects on families, people, and society as a
whole. Violence against women and girls has also increased, preexisting issues
have gotten worse, and new and emergent threats have emerged as a result of
humanitarian, health, and environmental crises including the COVID-19 pandemic,
conflict, and climate change.
In addition to other
often used phrases that every gender equality activist should know, this
article provides an overview of the most prevalent forms of violence against
women and girls.
However, it would take an
additional 132 years to complete the gender gap worldwide, according to the, Global
Gender Gap Report 2022. up terms of total gender equality, India came up at
number 135 out of 146 nations examined. [2]
Violence against women
Violence committed against
a woman because she is a woman or that disproportionately impacts women is
referred to as gender-based violence. It includes coercion, threats of
compulsion, acts that cause physical, mental, or sexual anguish or injury, and
other types of deprivation of liberty.
The root causes of violence against women include prejudice against women and unequal power and wealth distribution between males and women.
According to the NCRB
(National Crime Report Bureaue) the crime rate against women in India in 2022 was
4,45,256 were registered which is 4% comparatively higher than the crimes
registered in 2021 which was 4,28,278.[3]
This census is about the
registered crimes. Women in India; still in the 21st century
hesitate to get registered the crimes that are done against them due to
cultural norms, societal pressure, and most importantly family pressure and furthermore,
some women believe that domestic violence is their fate and that they are not
subject to any crimes as serious as it is.
The following list
includes some of the most heinous crimes that primarily affect women.
Violence against women in many forms
Violence against
intimate partners
Intimate relationship
violence includes behaviours including physical aggression, sexual coercion,
psychological abuse, and controlling conduct by an intimate partner or previous
intimate partner that cause bodily, sexual, or psychological harm. It is among
the most common forms of violence against women in the globe.
One type of domestic
violence is intimate relationship violence. Domestic violence is defined as
violence committed in a private, domestic setting, usually between intimate
partners or family members. Domestic violence is not just a problem for women;
it also includes the abuse of children and elderly individuals in the
household.
According to data; Worldwide, 27% of women
aged 15–49 who are in a relationship report being physically or sexually abused
by their spouse, according to the WHO.[4]
Sexual assault
Any harmful or
non-consensual sexual behaviour that is forced upon a person is considered
sexual violence. It includes sexual harassment, verbal abuse, threats,
exposure, unwanted fondling, incest, forced sex, forced participation in sex, attempted
or completed sex with a woman against her will, and more.
I want to tell you about
the one instance that shocked me much when I heard about it. Thus, the event
took place in Kerala, southern India, when 64 men’s raped a 13-year-old girl in
his hometown, namely a girl from a lower caste (Dalit). These men were her
neighbours, a sports coach, and even a friend of her father. Men ranged in age
from 17 to 47, while she was just 13 years old. Her neighbour first harassed
her, recorded it, and sent it to a couple of his friends. When the government
counsellor visited her town and had given the counselling of sexual assault in
the village then the girl visited the psychologist and had narrated the whole
incident, this episode was documented. This is the harsh and quiet world in
which the girl kid does not know what is proper or not appropriate.[5]
For this reason, the
government has taken a number of actions to prevent sexual assault and educate
people about their rights and the laws that protect women from these crimes.
Femicide
The killing of a girl or woman due to her gender is known as femicide. Stereotypes, prejudice, and unequal power dynamics are the causes. It is the pinnacle of brutality against women.
Femicide occurs in both private and public settings, as well as in all kinds of relationships. It may follow acts of sexual, physical, or psychological abuse. It has anything to do with forced labour, slavery, or human trafficking. The bodies of the victims are displayed in order to terrify and demonstrate dominance.
The killing of a girl or woman due to her gender is known as femicide. Stereotypes, prejudice, and unequal power dynamics are the causes. It is the pinnacle of brutality against women.
Femicide occurs in both private and public settings, as well as in all kinds of relationships. It may follow acts of sexual, physical, or psychological abuse. It has anything to do with forced labour, slavery, or human trafficking. The bodies of the victims are displayed in order to terrify and demonstrate dominance.
Honour killings are
sexually motivated murders in which family members, mostly women or girls, kill
the victim in an attempt to regain the honour they believe has been lost.
Honour murders have a negative impact on their female relatives and are
predicated on the local community's idea of sexual purity.
The Indian parliament has
occasionally passed legislation to defend and preserve the rights of women.
Despite the fact that these rules have been in place for decades, the number of
registrations of femicide cases has increased and the number of cases has gone
down.
This might be a sign of success in and of itself. This section discusses the domestic violence act, the prenatal sex determination regulations, and the dowry prohibition laws in order to comprehend their impact on femicide in India. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, is the first statute to combat femicide.[6]
This might be a sign of success in and of itself. This section discusses the domestic violence act, the prenatal sex determination regulations, and the dowry prohibition laws in order to comprehend their impact on femicide in India. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, is the first statute to combat femicide.[6]
Trafficking in persons
The worldwide crime of
human trafficking involves the dealing and profiting from human persons.
Traffickers control their victims with a variety of tactics, including
psychological coercion, extortion, physical and sexual assault, and the
confiscation of identification papers. Exploitation may take place in the
victim's home country, during travel, or in the country of destination.
Trafficking of persons can take many different forms. Although children of all ages and backgrounds, women, and men are all susceptible to the crime, women are the ones who are more frequently targeted, and girls are the ones who are most frequently trafficked for sex.
Technology-enabled
violence or the internet
Technology-enabled abuse
that inflicts injury and violates rights is referred to as
"technology-enabled violence against women." It happens both online
and offline, like in the case of using GPS tracking to restrict a woman's
movement.
According to a study by the National Commission for Women, 54.8% of women have experienced cyber harassment, while 26% of them have reported cases of morphed images or videos.[7]Intimate partner violence and other types of violence against women are made worse by technology-enabled gender violence, which also introduces new forms like internet stalking and AI deepfake abuse.
Some women and girls are more vulnerable than others when it comes to the abuse they encounter online. Public personalities, journalists, activists, politicians, young ladies, and feminists are among them.
Violence on the internet can include:
threatening
communications known as cyberbullying. Sending naked pictures or texts without
permission is known as non-consensual sexting. Doxing is the public disclosure
of a victim's personal data.
• In 2020, a man she met on a dating app
tormented and cyberstalked a young lady in Delhi for more than a year. The guy
threatened to publish her intimate images online and harassed her using several
false names.
Why women’s faces
discrimination:
It's crucial to
understand the reasons behind the prejudice women face before figuring out how
to stop crimes against them.
·
Regressive
Value System: Regardless of caste, class, or other factors, women and girls are
nonetheless viewed as permanent shock absorbers.
·
Patriarchal
Mindset: This is a result of the neo-liberal economy's restoration of
patriarchy.
·
Unaltered
Behaviour: Male mindsets and social attitudes do not change in spite of high
levels of education.
·
Gender-Based
Violence: Crime against women and gender-based violence were exacerbated by
practices like as honour murders, female genital mutilation, child marriage,
and dowry abuse.
·
Impact
of COVID-19: Gender-based violence is rapidly rising as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic's increased economic and social hardship, as well as its restrictions
on travel and social isolation policies.
·
Gender-Based Violence: Crime against women and
gender-based violence were exacerbated by practices like as honour murders,
female genital mutilation, child marriage, and dowry abuse.
·
Correct application of the law: One of the primary
causes of the rise in crimes against women is the improper application of the
law.
·
Crimes against women continue to increase despite
the fact that there are several laws in place to address these issues.
·
Economic dependent: For a variety of reasons, women
are typically less financially independent than males. For example, they are
not granted the same opportunities in school, employment, and other fields, and
they receive lower pay for doing the same work.[8]
Also,
these are only a few of the reasons that have been presented; there are many
more. However, these are the most famous ones.
[9]Solutions against women’s violence:
Violence hinders women's
ability to contribute to society and harms their general health. Their family,
community, and the nation as a whole suffer from violence. From increased health
care costs to legal fees and lost production, violence is incredibly expensive.
There are 104 countries with positive domestic violence laws out of 165 with anti-domestic violence laws. In contrast, states with domestic violence laws had lower rates of intimate partner violence (9.5 percent versus 16.1 percent) than those without such laws. Stopping complete violence against the women is imaginable for society due to the rigid culture, religious practices, and also patriarchy society. But; there are some solutions that can be taken into consideration for not stopping the violence against the women’s or girls. Violence encompasses not just physical but also mental forms of aggression. Because emotional stress also affects women and renders them weaker and less effective, physical remedies alone cannot assist them in overcoming the severe challenges they face. It is more crucial that women speak up about the injustices they are experiencing in public before anybody steps in to assist other women. Some solutions are listed below:
1)
Organize solidarity with other movements; Together, we are more powerful.
Racism, homophobia, xenophobia,
ableism, poverty, and climate change are just a few of the suffering and
injustice processes that give rise to and naturally accommodate violence
against women and girls.
Encourage activists from other groups
to join yours, and use other political and social movements to bolster the
fight against gender violence.
Together, we can halt the opposition
to women's rights, support feminist groups throughout the world, and take
action to permanently eradicate violence against women and girls. There are
various numbers of organisations, NGO’s, reformers, socialist and independent
women’s also have fight for the rights and had actively supported other women
to get justice.
2)
Speak up and speak up!
Everywhere we look, we see violence
against women, but it doesn't have to be this way—unless we take action.
Speaking up is more important than ever in the face of escalating anti-feminist
forces.
Violence against women Less than 40%
of women who have been violated receive any form of assistance, and taboos keep
offenders free and prevent women and girls from getting the support they need.
There are various kinds of violence
against women. It may be emotional, sexual, or physical. It can be done by a
lover or a stranger, in public or private, offline or online. Regardless of the
how, where, or why, it is utilised to keep women and girls from actively and
equally participating in society and has detrimental short- and long-term
repercussions on them.
Give activists and survivors a sense
of solidarity. Make their tales and voices heard louder. Make room for
discussion, both online and offline.
4)
Bring sexual harassment to light.
Most women experience sexual harassment
at some point in their life. Trivialising offensive conduct simply helps to
normalise it further, whether it takes happening in the office, on the street,
or online.
Additionally, frequent types of
harassment, such as online harassment, sexual jokes and remarks, and
catcalling, all contribute to women and girls feeling uncomfortable and
dangerous in public places. They contribute to the persistence of the
preconceptions and biases that fuel sexism. Additionally, they promote a
culture of impunity in which women can suffer harm without facing
repercussions. O
Encourage your friends to think about
their own conduct and to speak out if someone is being pushed too far in order
to create a safe environment both online and offline. Or ask for assistance
from others it threatens.
5)
Call for more stringent laws
There are still twenty-one years left
before laws prohibiting violence against women are enacted anywhere.
The world needs more proactive
defence policies to prevent and eliminate women human rights defenders and
women rights activists and advocates' violence, harassment, intimidation,
threats, and discrimination.
Laws that safeguard the rights of women in India:
Since we were discussing
solutions, it is quite important that, in addition to all other remedies, one
seek legal advice. In India, different laws, sections, and acts have been
established and enforced to provide a better and more free existence. If a
woman is experiencing such challenges, the first step should be to seek legal
assistance; if the law fails to give adequate justice, the different measures
listed above can also be used. But the first and the prominent step is the
legal measure.
The laws safeguarding the
women’s right in India are as follows:[11]
The Protection of
Women Against Domestic Violence Act 2005
One of the important Acts
and laws for women in India. Husbands who mistreat, harass, or assault women in
their own homes face severe legal repercussions under the law. In order to
ensure their safety and general well-being, the law works to give protection
orders, residency orders, and financial assistance.
Dowry Prohibition Act
1961
The Act's primary goal
was to eliminate the dowry threat in India. It made dowry giving and receiving
absolutely illegal. It also seeks to safeguard women who desire marriage but
are prevented from doing so due to petty demands for dowries made by the
prospective groom.[12]
The Prevention,
Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Act of 2013
It addresses workplace
sexual harassment of women. It gives women protection and a legal foundation to
assist stop such harassment, resulting in a secure and equitable workplace free
from sexual harassment and abuse of women. The Act requires the creation of
POSH Policy and internal committees to handle complaints and expedite case
resolution.
The following are some
more Acts that have been passed and are in effect in India:
The Medical
Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971[13]
The Maternity Benefit
Act, 1961[14]
The Equal Remuneration
Act, 1976[15]
The Indecent
Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986[17]
The National
Commission for Women Act, 1990 (NCW)[18]
Conclusion for stopping the crimes against women’s
There are a number of
other approaches that can be taken to eliminate the violence against women that
has been going on for decades and continues to be practiced in modern times.
However, I believe that these approaches are more suitable and have the
potential to have a greater influence on society. Furthermore, they can assist
women in developing and making a positive change in society.
In conclusion, India's
high rate of crimes against women is a serious problem that has to be addressed
right now. The safety, well-being, and rights of women in the nation are still
seriously threatened by violence against women and girls, which can take many
forms, including femicide, sexual assault, gender-based violence, trafficking
in persons, and violence made possible by technology. A multifaceted strategy
encompassing legislative changes, community education, and socioeconomic
empowerment is required to address the underlying causes of these crimes, which
include regressive value systems, patriarchal attitudes, economic reliance, and
the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic. Although India has put in place a number
of laws and actions to protect women's rights, more public awareness, stronger
enforcement, and the encouragement of unity across diverse social and political
groups are urgently needed to stop violence against women.
In addition, encouraging
women to speak up, identifying and resolving warning signs, exposing and
combating sexual harassment, and pushing for stricter legislation are all
crucial elements in building a more secure and just society for Indian women. India
can significantly reduce and eventually eradicate crimes against women by
implementing these policies, creating a society in which women can participate
fully and equally without fear of prejudice or violence.
[1] 2024, 27 June (2024) FAQs:
Types of violence against women and girls, UN Women – Headquarters.
Available at:
https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/faqs-types-of-violence-against-women-and-girls
(Accessed: 08 March 2025).
[2] GLOBAL GENDER REPORT 2022
[3] NCRB Report (National Crime
Report Bureau)
[4] Violence against women
(no date) World Health Organization. Available at:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
(Accessed: 18 March 2025).
[5] Mollan, C. (2025) Kerala:
Dalit woman in India alleges rape by 64 men over five years, BBC News.
Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedn031d563o (Accessed: 18
March 2025).
[6] Section 498A, Indian Penal Code,
1860: Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
—Whoever,
being the husband or
the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall
also be liable to fine. Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, “cruelty”
means— (a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to
drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life,
limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or
(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to
coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any
property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person
related to her to meet such demand.
[7] Yadav, H. (no date) UNVEILING
THE DARK SIDE OF CYBERSPACE: A STUDY OF CYBER CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN IN
INDIA. , IJFANS ITERNATIONAL JOURNAL of FOOD and NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES.
Available at: https://ijfans.org/uploads/paper/bb1038ebab972d9fa24b1706e43755bc.pdf
(Accessed: 18 March 2025).
[8] Kgs (2024) Crime against
women rises, UPSC Current Affairs 2025. Available at:
https://currentaffairs.khanglobalstudies.com/crime-against-women-rises/
(Accessed: 12 March 2025).
[9] 2022, 18 November (2022) Push
forward: 10 ways to end violence against women, UN Women – Headquarters.
Available at:
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2022/11/push-forward-10-ways-to-end-violence-against-women
(Accessed: 08 March 2025).
[10] 2022, 18 November (2022) Push
forward: 10 ways to end violence against women, UN Women – Headquarters.
Available at:
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2022/11/push-forward-10-ways-to-end-violence-against-women
(Accessed: 08 March 2025).
[11] National commission for women;
available at https://www.ncw.gov.in/(Accessed on: 18march2025)
[12] Admin (2024) Empowering
women: Understanding laws for women in India, LexisNexis Blogs.
Available at: https://www.lexisnexis.in/blogs/laws-for-women-in-india/
(Accessed: 15 March 2025).
[13] Parliament. (1971). THE MEDICAL
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT, 1971 [Legal]. In THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF
PREGNANCY ACT, 1971.
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1593/1/A1971-34.pdf (Accessed
on: 15 march 2025)
[14] Parliament. (1961). THE
MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961. In THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961. https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/17115/1/maternity_benefit.pdf
(Accessed on 17 march 2025)
[15] Equal Remuneration Acts and
Rules, 1976 Ministry of Labour & Employment|Government of India.
(n.d.). https://labour.gov.in/womenlabour/equal-remuneration-acts-and-rules-1976(Accessed
on: 17 march 2025)
[16] Parliament of India. (2007). THE
PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006. In THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE
ACT 2006, https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/15943/1/the_prohibition_of_child_marriage_act%2C_2006.pdf(accessed
on 17th march 2025)
[17] Parliament of India. (1986). THE
INDECENT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN (PROHIBITION) ACT, 1986. In THE INDECENT
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN (PROHIBITION) ACT, 1986.
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/15350/1/indecent_representation_of_women_%28prohibition%29_act%2C_1986.pdf(accessed
on 17th march 2025)
[18] Parliament of India. (1990). THE
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN ACT, 1990. In THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR
WOMEN ACT, 1990.
https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1944/1/199020.pdf(accessed on
17th march 2025)
Article Information
SILENT SUFFERING: THE HARSH REALITY OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN
Authors: BHOOMIKA RANKA
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2025/03/19
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
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- License CC 4.0
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