Crimes Against Women in India
Violence against women has become a prominent topic of discussion in India in recent years. Politicians and media have placed great focus on the issue due to continuously increasing trends during 2008–2012
Violence against women has become a prominent topic of discussion in India in recent years. Politicians and media have placed great focus on the issue due to continuously increasing trends during 2008–2012
Extent:
Year
|
Reported
violence
|
2008
|
195,856
|
2009
|
203,804
|
2010
|
213,585
|
2011
|
213,585
|
2012
|
244,270
|
According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, reported
incidents of crime against women increased 6.4% during 2012, and a crime
against a woman is committed every three minutes. In 2012, there were 244,270
reported incidents of crime against women, while in 2011, there were 228,650
reported incidents. Of the women living in India, 7.5% live in West Bengal where 12.7% of the total reported
crime against women occurs. Andhra Pradesh
is home to 7.3% of India's female population and accounts for 11.5% of the
total reported crimes against women.
65% of Indian men believe women
should tolerate violence in order to keep the family together, and women
sometimes deserve to be beaten In January 2011, the International Men and
Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Questionnaire reported that 24% of Indian men
had committed sexual violence at some point during their lives.
Murders:
Dowry
deaths:
A map of the reported dowry deaths
in India, per 100,000 people (2012)
A dowry deaths is a murder or suicide of a married
woman caused by a dispute over her dowry.
In some cases, husbands and in-laws will attempt to extort a greater dowry through continuous harassment and torture
which sometimes results in the wife committing suicide.
The majority of these suicides are
done through hanging, poisoning or self-immolation.
When a dowry death is done by setting the woman on fire, it is called bride burning. Bride burning murder is often set
up to appear to be a suicide or accident. Dowry is illegal in India, but it is
still common practice to give expensive gifts to the groom and his relatives at
weddings which are hosted by the family of the bride.
Women are not always the only
primary victims of dowry deaths. In some cases children are also killed
alongside their mothers. In eastern India, on January 30, 2014, for example, a
women and her one-year-old child were burned alive for dowry 77 minutes. Incidents of dowry deaths have
decreased 4.5% from 2011 to 2012
Year
|
Reported
dowry deaths
|
2008
|
8,172
|
2009
|
8,383
|
2010
|
8,391
|
2011
|
8,618
|
2012
|
8,233
|
In Uttar
Pradesh, 2,244 cases were reported, accounting for 27.3% of the
dowry deaths nationwide. In, Bihar,
1,275 cases were reported, accounting for 15.5% of cases nationwide.
Honour
killings:
An honour killing is a murder of a family member who
has been considered to have brought dishonour and shame upon the family
Examples of reasons for honour killings include the refusal to enter an
arranged marriage, committing adultery, choosing a partner that the family
disapproves of, and becoming a victim of rape. Honour killings are rooted to
tradition and cannot be justified by any major world religion, because none of
the major world religions condone honour-related crimes.
The most prominent areas where
honour killings occur in India are northern regions. Honour killings are
especially seen in Punjab, Haryana, Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand,
Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Honour killings have notably
increased in some Indian states which has led to the Supreme Court of India, in June 2010, issuing notices to both
the Indian central government and six states to take preventative measures
against honour killings.
Honour killings can be very violent.
For example, in June 2012, a father chopped off his 20-year-old daughter's head
with a sword in pure rage upon hearing that she was dating a man who he did not
approve of. Honour killings can also be openly supported by both local villagers
and neighbouring villagers. This was the case in September 2013, when a young
couple who married after having a love affair were brutally murdered.
Witchcraft-related
murders:
Murders of women accused of witchcraft still occur in India. Poor women,
widows, and women from lower castes are most at risk of such killings.
Female
infanticide:
Female infanticide is the elected killing of a newborn female child or the
termination of a female fetus through sex-selective abortion. In India, there
is incentive to have a son, because they offer security to the family in old
age and are able to conduct rituals for deceased parents and ancestors. In
contrast, daughters are considered to be a social and economic burden. An
example of this is dowry. The fear of not being able to pay an acceptable dowry
and becoming socially ostracised can lead to female infanticide for poorer.
Female
foeticide:
Female foeticide is the elected abortion of a
fetus, because it is female. Female foeticide occurs when a family has a strong
preference for sons over daughters, which is a common cultural theme in India.
Modern medical technology has allowed for the gender of a child to be
determined while the child is still a fetus. Once these modern prenatal
diagnostic techniques determine the gender of the fetus, families then are able
to decide if they would like to abort based on gender. If they decide to abort
the fetus after discovering it is female, they are committing female feoticide.
The foetal sex determination and sex-selective
abortion by medical professionals is now a R.s 1,000 crore (US$244
million) industry.
The Preconception
and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act of 1994 (PCPNDT Act 1994) was
modified in 2003 in order to target medical professionals. The Act has proven
ineffective due to the lack of implementation. Sex-selective abortions have
totaled approximately 4.2-12.1 million from 1980-2010.
There was a greater increase in the number of sex-selective abortions in the
1990s than the 2000s. Poorer families are responsible for a higher proportion
of abortions than wealthier families. Significantly more abortions occur in
rural areas versus urban areas when the first child is female.
Sexual
crimes:
Rape:
The map shows the comparative rate
of violence against women in Indian states and union territories in 2012, based
on crimes reported to the police. Crime rate data per 100,000 women in this map
is the broadest definition of crime against women under Indian law. It includes
rape, sexual assault, insult to modesty, kidnapping, abduction, cruelty by
intimate partner or relatives, trafficking, persecution for dowry, dowry
deaths, indecency, and all other crimes listed in Indian Penal Code.
Rape is one of the most common
crimes against women in India. Criminal Law
(Amendment) Act, 2013 defines rape as penile and non-penile
penetration in bodily orifices of a woman by a man, without the consent of the
woman. In India, a woman is raped every 29 minutes. Incidents of reported rape
increased 3% from 2011 to 2012. Incidents of reported incest rape
increased 46.8% from 268 cases in 2011 to 392 cases in 2012.
Year
|
Reported
rapes
|
2008
|
21,467
|
2009
|
21,397
|
2010
|
22,172
|
2011
|
24,206
|
2012
|
24,923
|
Victims of rape are increasingly
reporting their rapes and confronting the perpetrators. Women are becoming more
independent and educated, which is increasing their likelihood to report their
rape.
Although rapes are becoming more
frequently reported, many go unreported or have the complaint files withdrawn
due to the perception of family honour being compromised. Women frequently do
not receive justice for their rapes, because police often do not give a fair
hearing, and/or medical evidence is often unrecorded which makes it easy for
offenders to get away with their crimes under the current laws.
Increased attention in the media and
awareness among both Indians and the outside world is both bringing attention
to the issue of rape in India and helping empower women to report the crime.
After international news reported the gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a
moving bus that occurred in Delhi, in December 2012, Delhi experienced a
significant increase in reported rapes. The number of reported rapes nearly
doubled from 143 reported in January–March 2012 to 359 during the three months
after the rape. After the Delhi rape case,
Indian media has committed to report each and every rape case.
Marital
rape:
In India, marital rape is not a criminal offense 20% of Indian men admit to forcing their
wives or partners to have sex.
Marital rape can be classified into
one of three types:
- Battering rape: This includes both physical and sexual violence. The majority of marital rape victims experience battering rape.
- Force-only rape: Husbands use the minimum amount of force necessary to coerce his wife.
- Compulsive or obsessive rape: Torture and/or "perverse" sexual acts occur and are often physically violent.
Gang
rape
Gang rape is defined as the rape of an individual by two or more
perpetrators.
The 2012 Delhi gang rape brought a lot
of international attention to the issue of gang
rape in India. On 16 December 2012, in Munirka, New Delhi, a 23-year-old was beaten and
gang raped on a private bus. She died 13 days later. Following the rape, there
was widespread national and international coverage of the incident as well as public
protests against the government of India
and the government of Delhi.
Insult to modesty
Year
|
Assaults
with intent to outrage modesty
|
Insults
to the modesty of women
|
2008
|
40,413
|
12,214
|
2009
|
38,711
|
11,009
|
2010
|
40,613
|
9,961
|
2011
|
42,968
|
8,570
|
2012
|
45,351
|
9,173
|
Modesty-related violence against
women includes assaults on women with intent to outrage her modesty and insults
to the modesty of women. From 2011 to 2012, there was a 5.5% increase in
reported assaults on women with intent to outrage her modesty. Madhya Pradesh
had 6,655 cases, accounting for 14.7% of the national incidents. From 2011 to 2012, there was a 7.0% increase
in reported insults to the modesty of women. Andhra Pradesh had 3,714 cases, accounting for
40.5% of the national accounts, and Maharashtra
had 3,714 cases, accounting for 14.1% of the national accounts.
Human
trafficking and forced prostitution:
This desperate mother traveled from
her village in Nepal to Mumbai, India, hoping to find and rescue her teenage
daughter who was trafficked into an Indian brothel. "I will stay in
Mumbai," said the mother, "Until I find my daughter or die. I am not
leaving here without her."
Year
|
Imported
girls from foreign countries
|
Violations
of the Immoral Traffic Act
|
2008
|
67
|
2,659
|
2009
|
48
|
2,474
|
2010
|
36
|
2,499
|
2011
|
80
|
2,435
|
2012
|
59
|
2,563
|
From 2011 to 2012, there was a 26.3%
decrease in girls imported to India from another country. Karnataka had 32 cases, and West Bengal had 12 cases, together accounting for
93.2% of the total cases nationwide.
From 2011 to 2012, there was a 5.3%
increase in violations of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956. Tamil Nadu had 500 incidents, accounting for
19.5% of the total nationwide, and Andhra Pradesh
had 472 incidents, accounting for 18.4% of the total nationwide.
Domestic
violence:
Domestic violence is abuse by one partner against another in an intimate
relationship such as dating, marriage, cohabitation or a familial relationship.
Domestic violence is also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering,
family violence, dating abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV). Domestic
violence can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic and sexual abuse. Domestic violence can be subtle,
coercive or violent. In India, 70% of women are victims of domestic violence.
38% of Indian men admit they have
physically abused their partners. The Indian government has taken measures to
try to reduce domestic violence through legislation such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.
Year
|
Reported
cruelty by a husband or relative
|
2008
|
81,344
|
2009
|
89,546
|
2010
|
94,041
|
2011
|
99,135
|
2012
|
106,527
|
Every 9 minutes, a case of cruelty
is committed by either of husband or a relative of the husband. Cruelty by a
husband or his relatives is the greatest occurring crime against women. From
2011 to 2012, there was a 7.5% increase in cruelty by husbands and relatives.
In West Bengal, there were 19,865 cases,
accounting for 18.7% of the national total, and in Andhra
Pradesh, there were 13,389 cases, accounting for 12.6% of the
national total. However the point to be noted here is that the Section 498a,
which is called the anty dowry law is the most misused law in India.Many of these cases filed against men using 498a are false
and no actions are usually taken against women even if they are proven wrong.This is one of the major factors for married Men's suicide
in India which comes to 1 in every 9 minutes.
Forced
and child marriage:
Girls are vulnerable to being forced into marriage at young ages, suffering
from a double vulnerability: both for being a child and for being female. Child
brides often do not understand the meaning and responsibilities of marriage.
Causes of such marriages include the view that girls are a burden for their
parents, and the fear of girls losing their chastity before marriage.
Acid
throwing:
Acid throwing, also called an acid attack, a vitriol attack
or vitriolage, is a form of violent assault used against women in India
Acid throwing is the act of throwing acid or an alternative corrosive
substance onto a person's body "with the intention to disfigure, maim,
torture, or kill." Acid attacks are usually directed at a victim's face
which burns the skin causing damage and often exposing or dissolving bone.
Sulfuric acid and nitric acid are most commonly used for acid attacks.
Hydrochloric acid is also used, but is less damaging. Acid attacks can lead to permanent scarring,
blindness, as well as social, psychological and economic difficulties.
The Indian legislature has regulated
the sale of acid. Compared to women throughout the world, women in India are at
a higher risk of being victims of acid attacks. At least 72% of reported acid
attacks in India have involved women. India has been experiencing an increasing
trend of acid attacks over the past decade.
In 2010, there was a high of 27
reported cases of chemical assaults. Scholars believe that acid attacks in
India are being under-reported. 34% of acid attacks in India have been
determined to be related to rejection of marriage or refusal by a women of
sexual advances. 20% of acid attacks
have been determined to be related to land, property, and/or business
disputes. Acid attacks related to
marriage are often spurred by dowry disagreements.
Abduction:
Year
|
Reported
abductions
|
2008
|
22,939
|
2009
|
25,741
|
2010
|
29,795
|
2011
|
35,565
|
2012
|
38,262
|
Incidents of reported kidnappings
and abductions of women increased 7.6% from 2011 to 2012. Uttar Pradesh had 7,910 cases, accounting for
22.2% of the total of cases nationwide.
References:
·
"Crimes Against Women."
(PDF). Ncrb.gov.in. National Crime Records Bureau. 2013.
Retrieved 2014-03-02.
·
"India tackles domestic violence". BBC News. 2006-10-27.
Retrieved 3 March 2014.
·
"International Men and Gender
Equality Survey (IMAGES)". ICRW.org. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
·
"dowry death: definition of dowry
death in Oxford dictionary (American English) (US)".
Oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
·
Oldenburg, V. T. (2002). Dowry murder: The imperial origins of a
cultural crime. Oxford University Press.
·
Shah, Harmeet (2014-02-03). "Indian
woman and baby burned alive for dowry, police say". CNN.com.
Retrieved 2016-04-05.
·
"honour killing - definition of
honour killing in English from the Oxford dictionary".
Oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
·
"Ethics: Honour Crimes". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 23
December 2013.
Conclusion :
In
today’s modern world on one side women’s adopting western culture and on the
other side women’s struggle to live their day to day life. Even now some of us
saying women’s and men’s are equal that is just a talk but we are not taken in
to consideration itself.
Men’s
are also main reason for crimes against women in India. It is now our chance to
prove ourselves that we are men. Remember one thing “ Depends on how we treat
other women is based on how your mother taught you the values of life and how
good she is”.