CRIME AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA

This Blog is written by Mr. Bhagavatula Naga Sai Sriram, Student of School of Law, Sastra University, Tamil Nadu.

The crime rate against women is going side by side to technological development in the modern world. In this decade crimes against women are happening at each and every place including public places, offices, and in-home. Women have been the victims of exploitation and torture by the men from the past. The main reason for the increase in the crime rate against women is mainly due to the gender inequality present for centuries and lack of development in the mindset of the people and the progressive society. This article explains the types of crimes committed against women, the proximate causes for such commission, and the solutions to prevent such crimes against women.

Types of Crimes Committed against Women

There are numerous types of crimes that come under the category of crimes and violence against women. Some of the most common forms of crimes against women committed in the world especially in India are mentioned below.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault on a woman refers to a situation where a person deliberately forces her in to a sexual act without her consent. It is a form of sexual violence which includes crimes which are punishable under various statutes like rape, Child abuse, Drugs induced sexual assaults, etc.
Honor Killing
Honour killing refers to the homicide of a family member who has allegedly brought shame to the family by going against the family’s will on issues like arranged marriage, and choosing a life partner from another caste, etc. This type of crime is mostly committed against women stating the above-mentioned reasons like inter-caste marriage.
Forced Prostitution
Throughout India, the cases of young girls going missing are continuously reported and subsequently, they are forced into prostitution. Most of the criminals are targeting school going and college girls and the criminals are kidnapping them with an intention to force them into prostitution.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence against women is a type of crime that is carried out in a domestic or home environment. It includes both physical abuse and mental abuse of a woman, by her in-laws, husband, or relatives. Gender inequality, dowry system though not prevalent to the maximum extent in this society is primarily responsible for domestic violence against women.
Cyber Bullying
Cyber bullying is one type of cyber-crime which means that any act was done with the intention of depriving another or causing loss to an individual’s metaphysical entity via electronic means such as email and electronic chats etc. After 2004 cyber-crimes against women started increasing and they went to the maximum extent which includes several forms like morphing and sex-ting, online defamation, online stalking, etc.

Proximate Cause for Crime against Women
Male-Dominated Society
In most of the countries, the society is male-dominated where women don’t have the rights to make decisions related to the family and management of the expenses etc. Moreover, the researches revealed that almost 60% of males in this society think that women in the family must be beaten from time to time in order to keep them in a proper manner.
Family Circumstances
Generally, a child who watches his father physically and mentally abusing his mother is most likely to do the same to his wife when he grows up because of the psychological and visual impacts. This situation is most predominant in most of the nuclear families because there is no elder person to intervene and settle the matter between the spouses.
Ineffectual Laws and Slow Court Proceedings
Due to the ineffectual laws and slow court proceedings even though the offender is caught immediately after the commission of the crime. As a result, there is no fear of the offenders to commit the offenses.

Solutions to Curb Crime against Women

Some major solutions to prevent the commission of crimes against women are listed below:
Speedy Trials
speedy trails and court proceedings would reduce the crime rate against women because of it creates fear in the minds of the criminals that they will be prosecuted and they will be punished according to the provisions mentioned with-in a shorter span.
Increased Police Vigil
Police vigil must be increased in all the areas, especially in the secluded areas during night time. Police presence in these areas significantly reduces the chance of a woman getting assaulted or harassed by others on the road and in public places.
Community Initiatives
Initiatives are taken by the community itself towards curbing violence against women. It is the best way to counter domestic violence and as well as other crimes against women because of the change in the mind-set of the people might reduce domestic crimes.  

Conclusions

Violence and crimes against women are a blot on society and the world as well. Sexual assaults and other similar crimes on women will continuously damage society and obstruct our nation’s progress. Therefore, it is imperative to take stringent countermeasures like speedy trails and effective laws to diminish any kind of violence against women and also to ensure the protected environment to the women.