Introduction
Violence against women (VAW) in India is a pervasive socio-structural violation rooted in patriarchal norms, operating across a woman's life cycle from womb to tomb. It represents not only a fundamental denial of dignity and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution but also a major barrier to gender equality and human development.
1. Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence
- Spousal Cruelty: According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, cruelty by husbands or relatives accounts for roughly 30% of all recorded crimes against women in India.
- Intimate Partner Abuse: National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data indicates that nearly one-third (approx. 32%) of ever-married women have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence.
- Dowry-Related Violence: Unlawful dowry demands continue to result in harassment, physical abuse, and dowry deaths under Section 304B of the IPC (now corresponding provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
2. Pre-Natal and Traditional Socio-Cultural Violence
- Female Foeticide and Infanticide: Deep-seated son preference leads to sex-selective abortions in contravention of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, depressing child sex ratios.
- Child Marriage: Early and forced marriages truncate girls' education and bodily development, increasing vulnerability to early childbearing and domestic servitude.
- Honour Killings and Witch-Hunting: Extra-legal punishments, clan-enforced caste/communal honour killings, and witch-branding in tribal and rural areas target marginalized and vulnerable women.
3. Bodily, Sexual, and Public Space Offenses
- Severe Physical Assault and Acid Attacks: Heinous crimes like rape, gang rape, and acid attacks infringe upon bodily autonomy and cause lasting trauma and physical disability.
- Public Harassment: Street harassment and non-consensual surveillance severely restrict women's mobility and free access to public spaces.
- Trafficking and Commercial Exploitation: Vulnerable women and young girls are routinely trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and bonded domestic labor.
4. Workplace and Economic Exploitation
- Hostile Work Environments: Widespread sexual harassment at the workplace persists despite protections mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).
- Economic Marginalisation: Wage disparities, denial of property inheritance rights, and unpaid care burdens reinforce economic dependency on male kin.
5. Emerging Cyber and Digital Abuse
- AI Deepfakes and Image-Based Abuse: Generative AI deepfakes, morphing, and non-consensual dissemination of intimate imagery are rapidly multiplying.
- Cyber-Stalking and Doxxing: Online trolling, doxxing, impersonation, and continuous digital surveillance pose severe threats to women's mental well-being and privacy.
State Response: The Uttar Pradesh Model
States have institutionalised targeted deterrent frameworks to address these multifaceted crimes:
- Mission Shakti: A multi-departmental campaign focused on safety, security, and self-reliance, which has led Uttar Pradesh to achieve a national-leading conviction rate of 70.8% in crimes against women.
- Institutional Support: Deployment of Women Power Line 1090, Pink Booths, dedicated women helpdesks across all police stations, and Safe City surveillance infrastructure.
Conclusion
Eradicating violence against women necessitates transitioning from purely punitive measures to transformative socio-cultural change. Strengthening grassroots implementation of laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, coupled with gender-transformative schooling and rapid economic empowerment, is essential to secure true gender justice.