Introduction

In the past few years, the safety of women in India has been down because of some continuous

and terrible crimes against women. There has been decline in the women status from ancient to

medieval period which is continued in such an advanced era. Women of India have equal rights as

like as men of this country as they occupy almost half population of the country and involved in

half proportion in the growth and development of the country.

It is true that women in modern India are joining high offices (President, Speaker of Lok Sabha,

Union Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Chief Minister, Governor, etc) however on the back of

curtain they are being exploited too. According to the Constitution of India, they have equal rights

of dignity, equality, and freedom from gender discrimination. Indian women are continuously

facing numerous problems such as sexual harassment, violent victimization through rape, acid

attack, dowry deaths, forced prostitution, and many more.

Education and Economic Development

Number of women heading the households in India is found decreased though female literacy rate

is still less than male literacy rate. Urban girls are nearly equal in education like boys however in

the rural areas there is still a big gap. On the other hand, some Indian states (like Kerala and

Mizoram) have achieved universal female literacy. So, women in such states have high social and

economic status. Women literacy rate in India is still less because of the inadequate school

facilities, sanitary facilities, increasing crimes against women, shortage of female teachers, gender

discrimination in the society, etc. According to the statistics of 2015, it is found that women (above

15 years or older) literacy rate is 60.6% whereas male literacy rate is 81.3%.
Crimes against women in India

There is a big list of crimes against women in India such as acid attack, child marriages, domestic

violence, forceful domestic work, child abuse, dowry deaths, female infanticide and sex-selective

abortions, child labour, honor killings, rape, sexual harassment, trafficking, forced for prostitution,

and many more.

What are Safety Laws for Women in India

There is a list of safety laws for women in India working in the field to provide safety to the women

from all type of crimes against women. Some safety laws are Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929,

Special Marriage Act 1954, Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Hindu Widows Remarriage Act 1856,

Indian Penal Code 1860, Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, Maternity Benefit Act 1861, Foreign

Marriage Act 1969, Indian Divorce Act 1969, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971,

Christian Marriage Act 1872, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, Equal Remuneration Act 1976,

Married Women’s Property Act 1874, Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1886, Indecent

Representation of Women (Prevention) Act 1986, Muslim women (protection of rights on divorce)

Act 1986, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act 1987, National Commission for Women Act 1990,

Prohibition of Sex Selection Act 1994, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005,

Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012, Sexual Harassment of Women at Work

Place Act 2013, etc.

Another Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 has been passed replacing

the existing Indian juvenile delinquency law of 2000 (Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of

Children) Act, 2000). This act was passed by the Lok Sabha on 7th of May in 2015 and however,

by the Rajya Sabha on 22nd of December in 2015. This act is passed to lower down the juvenile
age from 18 to 16 years in cases of heinous offense (especially after the release of Nirbhaya’s case

accused juvenile).

Definition

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and

domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, provides the following definition of

violence against women:

"Violence against women" is understood as a violation of human rights and a form of

discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or

are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women,

including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in

public or in private life

Although the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

(CEDAW) includes VAW in its General Recommendations 12 and 19, and the Vienna Declaration

and Programme of Action mentions VAW, it was the 1993 United Nations General Assembly

resolution on the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which became the

first international instrument to explicitly define VAW and elaborate on the subject. Other

definitions of VAW are provided by the 1994 Inter-American Convention on the Prevention,

Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women and by the 2003 Maputo Protocol.

In addition, the term gender-based violence refers to "any acts or threats of acts intended to hurt

or make women suffer physically, sexually or psychologically, and which affect women because

they are women or affect women disproportionately". The definition of gender-based violence is

most often "used interchangeably with violence against women", and some articles on VAW
reiterate these conceptions by suggesting that men are the main perpetrators of this violence.

Moreover, the definition stated by the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against

Women also supported the notion that violence is rooted in the inequality between men and women

when the term violence is used together with the term 'gender-based.

In Recommendation Rec (2002)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the protection

of women against violence, the Council of Europe stipulated that VAW "includes, but is not limited

to, the following":

a. violence occurring in the family or domestic unit, including, inter alia, physical and mental

aggression, emotional and psychological abuse, rape and sexual abuse, incest, rape between

spouses, regular or occasional partners and cohabitants, crimes committed in the name of honor,

female genital and sexual mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, such as

forced marriages;

b. violence occurring within the general community, including, inter alia, rape, sexual abuse,

sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in institutions or elsewhere trafficking in women for

the purposes of sexual exploitation and economic exploitation and sex tourism;

c. violence perpetrated or condoned by the state or its officials;

d. violation of the human rights of women in situations of armed conflict, in particular the taking

of hostages, forced displacement, systematic rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, and

trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and economic exploitation.

These definitions of VAW as being gender-based are seen by some to be unsatisfactory and

problematic. These definitions are conceptualized in an understanding of society as patriarchal,

signifying unequal relations between men and women. Opponents of such definitions argue that
the definitions disregard violence against men and that the term gender, as used in gender-based

violence, only refers to women. Other critics argue that employing the term gender in this

particular way may introduce notions of inferiority and subordination for femininity and

superiority for masculinity. There is no widely accepted current definition that covers all the

dimensions of gender-based violence rather than the one for women that tends to reproduce the

concept of binary oppositions: masculinity versus femininity.

History

Overview

An illustration from JJ Grandville's Cent Proverbs (1845) captioned "Qui aime bien châtie bien"

(Who loves well, punishes well). A man beating a woman is shown in the back.
 Burning witches, with others held in Stocks

Sati (a Hindu practice whereby a widow immolates herself on the funeral pyre of her husband)

ceremony.

X-ray of bound feet, China

The history of violence against women remains vague in scientific literature. This is in part because

many kinds of violence against women (specifically rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence)

are under-reported, often due to societal norms, taboos, stigma, and the sensitive nature of the

subject. It is widely recognized that even today, a lack of reliable and continuous data is an obstacle

to forming a clear picture of violence against women.

Although the history of violence against women is difficult to track, it is clear that much of the

violence was accepted, condoned and even legally sanctioned. Examples include that Roman law

gave men the right to chastise their wives, even to the point of death, and the burning of witches,
which was condoned by both the church and the state (although this was not a practice exclusively

against women).

The history of violence against women is closely related to the historical view of women as

property and a gender role of subservience. Explanations of patriarchy and an overall world system

or status quo in which gender inequalities exist and are perpetuated are cited to explain the scope

and history of violence against women. The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against

Women (1993) states, "violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power

relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against

women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against

women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate

position compared with men."

According to the UN, "there is no region of the world, no country and no culture in which women's

freedom from violence has been secured." Several forms of violence are more prevalent in certain

parts of the world, often in developing countries. For example, dowry violence and bride burning

is associated with India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Acid throwing is also associated with

these countries, as well as in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia. Honor killingis associated with

the Middle East and South Asia. Female genital mutilation is found mostly in Africa, and to a

lesser extent in the Middle East and some other parts of Asia. Marriage by abduction is found in

Ethiopia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Abuse related to payment of bride price (such as violence,

trafficking and forced marriage) is linked to parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. (Also see

lobolo.)

Certain regions are no longer associated with a specific form of violence, but such violence was

common until quite recently in those places; this is true of honor-based crimes in
Southern/Mediterranean Europe. For instance, in Italy, before 1981, the Criminal Code provided

for mitigating circumstances in case of a killing of a woman or her sexual partner for reasons

related to honor, providing for a reduced sentence.

Invoking culture to explain particular forms of violence against women risks appearing to

legitimize them. There is also debate and controversy about the ways in which cultural traditions,

local customs and social expectations, as well as various interpretations of religion, interact with

abusive practices. Specifically, cultural justifications for certain violent acts against women are

asserted by some states and social groups within many countries claiming to defend their traditions.

These justifications are questionable precisely because the defenses are generally voiced by

political leaders or traditional authorities, not by those actually affected. The need for sensitivity

and respect of culture is an element that cannot be ignored either; thus, a sensitive debate has

ensued and is ongoing.

There has also been a history of recognizing the harmful effects of this violence. In the 1870s,

courts in the United States stopped recognizing the common-law principle that a husband had the

right to "physically chastise an errant wife". The first state to rescind this right was Alabama in

1871. In the UK the right of a husband to inflict moderate corporal punishment on his wife to keep

her "within the bounds of duty" was removed in 1891.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, and in particular since the 1990s, there has been increased activity

on both the national and international levels to research, raise awareness and advocate for the

prevention of all kinds of violence against women. Most often, violence against women has been

framed as a health issue, and also as a violation of human rights. A study in 2002 estimated that at

least one in five women in the world had been physically or sexually abused by a man sometime

in their lives, and "gender-based violence accounts for as much death and ill-health in women aged
15–44 years as cancer, and is a greater cause of ill-health than malaria and traffic accidents

combined."

Certain characteristics of violence against women have emerged from the research. For example,

acts of violence against women are often not unique episodes, but are ongoing over time. More

often than not, the violence is perpetrated by someone the woman knows, not by a stranger. The

research seems to provide convincing evidence that violence against women is a severe and

pervasive problem the world over, with devastating effects on the health and well-being of women

and children.

Milestones

Some of the most important milestones on the international level for the prevention of violence

against women include:

 The 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW), which recognizes violence as a part of discrimination against women in

recommendations 12 and 19.

 The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, which recognized violence against women

as a human rights violation, and which contributed to the following UN declaration.

 The 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women was the first

international instrument explicitly defining and addressing violence against women. This

document specifically refers to the historically forever-present nature of gender inequalities

in understanding violence against women. (Include current 2nd paragraph here). This

Declaration, as well as the World Conference of the same year, is often viewed as a "turning

point" at which the consideration of violence against women by the international

 community began to be taken much more seriously, and after which more countries

mobilized around this problem.

 The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, linking violence

against women to reproductive health and rights, and also providing recommendations to

governments on how to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

 In 1996, the World Health Assembly (WHA) declared violence a major public health issue,

and included in the subtypes recognized were intimate partner violence and sexual

violence, two kinds of violence often perpetrated as violence against women. This was

followed by a WHO report in 2002. The UN also created the Trust Fund to Support Actions

to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

 In 1999, the UN adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All

Forms of Discrimination against Womenand designated November 25 as the International

Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

 In 2002, as a follow-up of the WHA declaration in 1996 of violence as a major public

health issue, the World Health Organizationpublished the first World Report on Violence

and Health, which addressed many types of violence and their effect on public health,

including forms of violence affecting women particularly strongly. The report specifically

noted the sharp rise in civil society organizations and activities directed at responding to

gender-based violence against women from the 1970s to the 1990s.

 In 2004, the World Health Organization published its "Multi-country study on Women's

Health and Domestic Violence against Women", a study of women's health and domestic

violence by surveying over 24,000 women in 10 countries from all regions of the world,

which assessed the prevalence and extent of violence against women, particularly violence
 by intimate partners, and linked this with health outcomes to women as well as

documenting strategies and services that women use to cope with intimate-partner

violence.

 The 2006 UN Secretary General's "In-depth study on all forms of violence against women",

the first comprehensive international document on the issue.

 The 2011 Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against

women and domestic violence, which is the second regional legally-binding instrument on

violence against women and girls.

 In 2013, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted, by

consensus, Agreed Conclusions on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence

against women and girls (formerly, there were no agreed-upon conclusions).

 Also, in 2013, the UN General Assembly passed its first resolution calling for the

protection of defenders of women's human rights. The resolution urges states to put in place

gender-specific laws and policies for the protection of women's human rights defendersand

to ensure that defenders themselves are involved in the design and implementation of these

measures, and calls on states to protect women's human rights defenders from reprisals for

cooperating with the UN and to ensure their unhindered access to and communication with

international human rights bodies and mechanisms.

Additionally, on the national level, individual countries have also organized efforts (legally,

politically, socially) to prevent, reduce and punish violence against women. As a particular case

study, here are some developments since the 1960s in the United States to oppose and treat

violence against women:

 1967: One of the country's first domestic violence shelters opened in Maine.
 1972: The country's first rape help hotline opened in Washington, D.C.

 1978: Two national coalitions, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, were formed, to raise awareness of these

two forms of violence against women.

 1984: The U.S. Attorney General created the Department of Justice Task Force on Family

Violence, to address ways in which the criminal justice system and community response

to domestic violence should be improved.

 1994: Passage of the Violence Against Women Act or VAWA, legislation included in the

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, sponsored by then-Senator

Joseph Biden, which required a strengthened community response to crimes of domestic

violence and sexual assault, strengthened federal penalties for repeat sex offenders and

strengthened legislative protection of victims, among many other provisions.

 2000: President Clinton signed into law the VAWA of 2000, further strengthening federal

laws, and emphasizing assistance of immigrant victims, elderly victims, victims with

disabilities, and victims of dating violence.

 2006: President Bush signed into law the VAWA of 2006, with an emphasis on programs

to address violence against youth victims, and establishing programs for Engaging Men

and Youth, and Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services.

 2007: The National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline opened.

 2009: President Obama declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

 2013: President Obama signed into law the VAWA of 2015, which granted Native

American tribes the ability to prosecute non-Native offenders, and regulated reports of

sexual assault on college campuses.

Other countries have also enacted comparable legislative, political and social instruments to

address violence against women. Experts in the international community generally believe,

however, that solely enacting punitive legislation for prevention and punishment of violence

against women is not sufficient to address the problem. For example, although much stricter laws

on violence against women have been passed in Bangladesh, violence against women is still rising.

Instead, it is thought that wide societal changes to address gender inequalities and women's

empowerment will be the way to reduce violence against women.

Effect on society

A map of the world showing countries by level of women's physical security, 2011

According to an article in the Health and Human Rights Journal, regardless of many years of

advocacy and involvement of many feminist activist organizations, the issue of violence against

women still "remains one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations worldwide". The

violence against women can occur in both public and private spheres of life and at any time of

their life span. Violence against women often keeps women from wholly contributing to social,

economic, and political development of their communities. Many women are terrified by these

threats of violence and this essentially influences their lives so that they are impeded to exercise

their human rights; for instance, they fear contributing to the development of their communities

socially, economically and politically. Apart from that, the causes that trigger VAW or gender-
based violence can go beyond just the issue of gender and into the issues of age, class, culture,

ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and specific geographical area of their origins.

Importantly, other than the issue of social divisions, violence can also extend into the realm of

health issues and become a direct concern of the public health sector. A health issue such as

HIV/AIDS is another because that also leads to violence. Women who have HIV/AIDS infection

are also among the targets of the violence. The World Health Organization reports that violence

against women puts an undue burden on health care services, as women who have suffered

violence are more likely to need health services and at higher cost, compared to women who have

not suffered violence. Another statement that confirms an understanding of VAW as being a

significant health issue is apparent in the recommendation adopted by the Council of Europe,

violence against women in private sphere, at home or domestic violence, is the main reason of

"death and disability" among the women who encountered violence.

In addition, several studies have shown a link between poor treatment of women and international

violence. These studies show that one of the best predictors of inter- and intranational violence is

the maltreatment of women in the society.

Violence against women in India

Violence against women in India refers to physical or sexual violence committed against Indian

women, typically by a man. Common forms of violence against women in India include acts such

as domestic abuse, sexual assault, and murder. In order to be considered violence against women,

the act must be committed solely because the victim is female. Most typically, these acts are

committed by men as a result of the long-standing gender inequalities present in the country.
Violence against women in India is actually more present than it may appear at first glance, as

many expressions of violence are not considered crimes, or may otherwise go unreported or

undocumented due to certain Indian cultural values and beliefs. These reasons all contribute to

India's Gender Inequality Index rating of 0.524 in 2017, putting it in the bottom 20% of ranked

countries for that year.

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. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2011, there were greater than

228,650 reported incidents of crime against women, while in 2015, there were over 300,000

reported incidents, a 44% increase. 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.

Exact statistics on the extent case occurrences are very difficult to obtain, as a large number of

cases go unreported. This is due in large part to the threat of ridicule or shame on the part of the

potential reporter, as well as an immense pressure not to damage the family's honor. For similar

reasons, law enforcement officers are more motivated to accept offers of bribery from the family

of the accused, or perhaps in fear of more grave consequences, such as Honor Killings.
 Types
Murders:
Dowry deaths:

A map of the reported dowry deaths in India, per 100,000 people (2012)

A dowry death is the 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, or the exchange

of gifts, money, or property upon marriage of a family's daughter.

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, sometimes by setting the woman on fire in

such a way that it appears she ignited while cooking at a kerosene stove. 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.

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.

Incidents of dowry deaths have decreased 4.5% from 2011 to 2012.

In 2018, still as many as 5,000 dowry deaths are recorded each year.

Honor Killings:

An Honor killing is a murder of a family member who has been considered to have brought

dishonor and shame upon the family. Examples of reasons for honor 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.

The most prominent areas where honor killings occur in India are northern regions. Honor killings

are especially seen in Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh,

and Madhya Pradesh. Honor 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 honor killings.

Honor killings can be very violent. For example, in June 2012, a father decapitated his 20-year-

old daughter with a sword upon hearing that she was dating a man who he did not approve of.

Honor killings can also be openly supported by both local villagers and neighboring 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 and Sex-Selective Abortion:

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 ostracized

can lead to female infanticide in poorer families.

Modern medical technology has allowed for the sex of a child to be determined while the child is

still a fetus. Once these modern prenatal diagnostic techniques determine the sex of the fetus,

families then are able to decide if they would like to abort based on sex. One study found that

7,997 of 8,000 abortions were of female fetuses. The fetal 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. Despite its prevalence, rape accounted for

10.9% of reported cases of violence against women in 2016.

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 honor 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.

Insult to Modesty:

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 Violations of the Immoral Traffic

countries 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.

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 vitriolize, 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. 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.

Perpetuation

Perpetuation of violence against women in India continues as a result of many systems of sexism

and Patriarchy in place within Indian culture. Beginning in early childhood, young girls are given

less access to education than their male counterparts. 80% of boys will go to primary school, where

as just over half of girls will have that same opportunity. Gender based inequality is present even

before that however, as it is reported that female children are often fed less and are given less

hearty diets that contain little to no butter, milk, or other more hearty foods. Even when girls are

taught about the inequity they will face in life, boys are uneducated on this and are therefore

unprepared to treat women and girls as equals.

Later in life, the social climate continues to reinforce inequality, and consequently, violence

against women. Married women in India tend to see violence as a routine part of being married.

Women who are put in a situation where they are being subjected to gender-based violence are

often victim shamed, being told that their safety is their own responsibility and that whatever may

happen to them is their own fault. In addition to this, women are very heavily pressured into

complicity because of social and cultural beliefs, such as family honor.

Even when a woman who is a victim of gender-based violence or crime does decide to report the

incident, it is not always likely that she will have access to the support she would need to handle

the situation properly. Law enforcement officers and doctors will often choose not to report a case,

due to fear that it might in some way damage their own honor, or otherwise bring shame to them.

In the case that she gets help from a doctor, there is no standard procedure for determining whether

a woman is a victim of Sexual assault and doctors often resort to highly invasive and primitive

methods such as the infamous "two-finger test" which can worsen the problem and are can be

psychologically damaging for the victim.

Some organizations exist to help end the perpetuation of violence against women in India, most

notably Dilaasa, a hospital based crisis center for women operated in collaboration with CEHAT

with aims to provide proper care for survivors of violence against women and work towards ending

gender inequality. From 2000 to 2013, about 3,000 victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, or

other forms of gender-based violence have registered with Dilaasa.

Reproductive coercion

The painting depicts a Chilean woman being kidnapped during a malón. Bride kidnapping for the

purpose of forced marriage and forced pregnancy was common through the history in many

countries.
Reproductive coercion is violent, manipulative or deceptive behavior against reproductive healthor

reproductive rights within an intimate relation and includes a collection of behaviors intended to

lead to forced pregnancy. Reproductive coercion is a form of domestic violence, also known as

intimate partner violence, where behavior concerning reproductive health is used to maintain

power, control, and domination within a relationship and over a partner through an unwanted

pregnancy. It is considered a serious public health issue. This reproductive control is highly

correlated to unintended pregnancy.

Forced pregnancy is the practice of forcing a woman or girl to become pregnant, often as part of a

forced marriage, including by means of bride kidnapping, through rape (including marital rape,

war rape and genocidal rape) or as part of a program of breeding slaves (see Slave breeding in the

United States). In the 20th century, state mandated forced marriage with the aim of increasing the

population was practiced by some authoritarian governments, notably during the Khmer Rouge

regime in Cambodia, which systematically forced people into marriages ordering them to have

children, in order to increase the population and continue the revolution. Forced pregnancy is

strongly connected to the custom of bride price.

Within the discourse on reproductive rights, the issue of abortion is often debated. Abortion law

falls within the jurisdiction of each country, although forced abortion is prohibited by international

law. The Istanbul Convention prohibits forced abortion and forced sterilization(Article 39). The

issue of forced continuation of pregnancy (i.e. denying a woman safe and legal abortion) is also

seen by some organizations as a violation of women's rights, although there are no binding

international obligations on this issue. However, the Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women considers the criminalization of abortion a "violations of women's

sexual and reproductive health and rights" and a form of "gender based violence"
Mob violence

In 2010 Amnesty International reported that mob attacks against single women were taking place

in Hassi Messaoud, Algeria. According to Amnesty International, "some women have been

sexually abused" and were targeted "not just because they are women, but because they are living

alone and are economically independent".

Dating abuse

Dating abuse or dating violence is the perpetration of coercion, intimidation or assault in the

context of dating or courtship. It is also when one partner tries to maintain abusive power and

control. Dating violence is defined by the CDC as "the physical, sexual, psychological, or

emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking". In some countries it is

common for older men to engage in "compensated dating" with underage girls. Such relationships

are called enjo kōsai in Japan, and are also common in Asian countries such as Taiwan, South

Korea, Hong Kong. The WHO condemned "economically coerced sex (e.g. school girls having

sex with “sugar daddies” (Sugar baby in return for school fees)" as a form of violence against

women.

Sexual violence on college campuses

Sexual violence on college campuses is considered a major problem in the United States.

According to the conclusion of a major Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study: "The CSA Study

data suggest women at universities are at considerable risk for experiencing sexual assault." Sexual

violence on campus has been researched in other countries too, such as Canada, the UK, and New

Zealand.
Restrictions on freedom of movement

Women are, in many parts of the world, severely restricted in their freedom of movement. Freedom

of movement is an essential right, recognized by international instruments, including Article 15

(4) of CEDAW. Nevertheless, in some countries, women are not legally allowed to leave home

without a male guardian (male relative or husband). Even in countries where there are no laws

against women traveling alone, there are strong social norms, such as purdah - a religious and

social practice of female seclusion prevalent especially among some Muslim and Hindu

communities in South Asia. Many countries have laws on what type of clothing women may or

may not wear in public (see Hijab by country). Women in some cultures are forced into social

isolation during their menstrual periods. In parts of Nepal for instance, they are forced to live in

sheds, are forbidden to touch men or even to enter the courtyard of their own homes, and are barred

from consuming milk, yogurt, butter, meat, and various other foods, for fear they will contaminate

those goods. (see Chhaupadi). Women have died during this period because of starvation, bad

weather, or bites by snakes. In cultures where women are restricted from being in public places,

by law or custom, women who break such restrictions often face violence.

Denial of medical care

Maternal Mortality Rate worldwide, as defined by the number of maternal deaths per 100,000

live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management, excluding

accidental or incidental causes.

Women in many parts of the world are often denied medical care. Denial of access to health

assistance, along with denial of access to other services, is a form of socioeconomic violence

against women. According to the WHO, "Discrimination in health care settings takes many forms

and is often manifested when an individual or group is denied access to health care services that

are otherwise available to others. It can also occur through denial of services that are only needed

by certain groups, such as women." Women may be denied medical care for numerous reasons,

including lack of necessary freedom of movement allowing women to leave home so they can go

to a medical facility, lack of financial resources, the need (in law or in practice) for a male relative

or husband to consent to the medical care of the woman. A common consequence of denial of

women's medical care is maternal mortality. Globally, there are more than 300.000 cases of

maternal mortality yearly, with 99% of all maternal deaths occurring in developing countries.

Denial of medical care often occurs with regard to reproductive and sexual health. Sometimes

women themselves avoid the medical system for fear of being reported to the police or facing

family violence due to having premarital sex or being the victims of sexual violence. In some parts

of Latin America, with very strict anti-abortion laws, pregnant women avoid the medical system

due to fear of being investigated by the authorities if they have a miscarriage, or a stillbirth, or

other problems with the pregnancy. Prosecuting such women is quite common in places such as

El Salvador.
Stalking

Stalking is unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group toward another person, often

manifested through persistent harassment, intimidation, or following/monitoring of the victim.

Stalking is often understood as "course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a

reasonable person to feel fear". Although stalkers are frequently portrayed as being strangers, they

are most often known people, such as former or current partners, friends, colleagues or

acquaintances. In the U.S., a survey by NVAW found that only 23% of female victims were stalked

by strangers. Stalking by partners can be very dangerous, as sometimes it can escalate into severe

violence, including murder. Police statistics from the 1990s in Australia indicated that 87.7% of

stalking offenders were male and 82.4% of stalking victims were female.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is abusive, uninvited and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, typically in

the work/studying place, which may include intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature,

or the inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. It can be verbal or physical,

and it is often perpetrated by a person in a position of authority against a subordinate. In the United

States, sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

of 1964. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women

and domestic violence defines sexual harassment as: "any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or

physical conduct of a sexual nature with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person,

in particular when creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive

environment".

Human trafficking and forced prostitution

A world map showing countries by prevalence of female trafficking

Human trafficking refers to the acquisition of persons by improper means such as force, fraud or

deception, with the aim of exploiting them. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish

Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children states, "Trafficking in persons" shall mean

the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or

use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power

or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the

consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other

forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery,

servitude or the removal of organs.

Because of the illegal nature of trafficking, reliable data on its extent is very limited. The WHO

states "Current evidence strongly suggests that those who are trafficked into the sex industry and

as domestic servants are more likely to be women and children." A 2006 study in Europe on

trafficked women found that the women were subjected to serious forms of abuse, such as physical

or sexual violence, that affected their physical and mental health.

Forced prostitution is prostitution that takes place as a result of coercion by a third party. In forced

prostitution, the party/parties who force the victim to be subjected to unwanted sexual acts exercise

control over the victim.

Mistreatment of widows

A widow is a woman whose spouse has died. In some parts of the world, widows are subjected to

serious forms of abuse, often fueled by traditional practices such as widow inheritance. The

sacrifice of widows (such as sati) has been prevalent historically in various cultures (especially in

India). Although sati in India is today an almost defunct practice, isolated incidents have occurred

in recent years, such as the 1987 sati of Roop Kanwar, as well as several incidents in rural areas in

2002, and 2006. Those likely to be accused and killed as witches are often widows. In parts of

Africa, such as in Kenya, widows are viewed as impure and need to be 'cleansed'. This often

requires having sex with someone. Those refusing to be cleansed risk getting beaten by

superstitious villagers, who may also harm the woman's children. It is argued that this notion arose

from the idea that if a husband dies, the woman may have performed witchcraft against him.

Widow inheritance (also known as bride inheritance) is a cultural and social practice whereby a

widow is required to marry a male relative of her late husband, often his brother.

Accusations of witchcraft
A 1533 account of the execution of a witch charged with burning the German town of Schiltach

in 1531.

Witch trials in the early modern period (between the 15th and 18th centuries) were common in

Europe and in the European colonies in North America. Today, there remain regions of the world

(such as parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, rural North India, and Papua New Guinea) where belief in

witchcraft is held by many people, and women accused of being witches are subjected to serious

violence. In addition, there are also countries that have criminal legislation against the practice of

witchcraft. In Saudi Arabia, witchcraft remains a crime punishable by death.

Forced sterilization and forced abortion

A map from a 1929 Swedish royal commission report displays the U.S. states that had

implemented sterilization legislation by then

Forced sterilization and forced abortion are forms of gender-based violence. Forced sterilization

has occurred throughout much of the world, both at the hands of the state and from intimate

partners. Studies show forced sterilizations often target socially and politically disadvantaged

groups such as racial and ethnic minorities, the poor, and indigenous populations. According to

the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, all "women are

guaranteed the right to decide freely and responsibly on the number of and spacing of their

children, and to have access to information, education, and means to enable them to exercise these

rights."

In the United States, much of the history of forced sterilization is connected to the legacy of

eugenics and racism in the United States. Many doctors thought that they were doing the country

a service by sterilizing poor, disabled, and/or minority women, whom they considered a drain on

the system. Native American, Mexican American, African American and Puerto Rican-American

women were coerced into sterilization programs, with Native Americans and African Americans

especially being targeted. Records have shown that Native American girls as young as eleven

years-old had hysterectomy operations performed.

In Europe, there have been a number of lawsuits and accusations towards the Czech Republic and

Slovakia of sterilizing Roma women without adequate information and waiting period. In

response, both nations have instituted a mandatory seven-day waiting period and written consent.

Slovakia has been condemned on the issue of forced sterilization of Roma women several times

by the European Court for Human Rights.

In Peru, in 1995, Alberto Fujimori launched a family planning initiative that especially targeted

poor and indigenous women. In total, over 215,000 women were sterilized, with over 200,000

believed to have been coerced. In 2002, Health Minister Fernando Carboneadmitted that the
government gave misleading information, offered food incentives, and threatened to fine parents

if they had additional children. The procedures have also been found to have been negligent, with

less than half using proper anesthetic.

In China, the one child policy included forced abortions and forced sterilization. Forced

sterilization is also practiced in Uzbekistan.

Violence by the police and other authority figures

A member of the Taliban's religious policebeating an Afghan woman in Kabul on 26 August

2001.

When police officers misuse their power as agents of the state to physically and sexually harass

and assault victims, the survivors, including women, feel much less able to report the violence. It

is standard procedure for police to force entry into the victim's home even after the victim's

numerous requests for them to go away. Government agencies often disregard the victim's right to

freedom of association with their perpetrator. Shelterworkers are often reduced themselves to

contributing to violence against women by exploiting their vulnerability in exchange for a paying

job.

Human rights violations perpetrated by police and military personnel in many countries are

correlated with decreased access to public health services and increased practices of risky behavior
among members of vulnerable groups, such as women and female sex workers. These practices

are especially widespread in settings with a weak rule of law and low levels of police and military

management and professionalism. Police abuse in this context has been linked to a wide range of

risky behaviors and health outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and

substance abuse. Extortion of sexual services and police sexual abuse have been linked to a

decrease in condom use and an elevated risk of STI and HIV infections among vulnerable groups.

Stoning and flogging

Stoning, or lapidation, refers to a form of capital punishment whereby an organized group throws

stones at an individual until the person dies. Stoning is a punishment that is included in the laws

of several countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, the United Arab

Emirates, and some states in Nigeria, as punishment for adultery. Flogging or flagellation is the

act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. It is a judicial punishment in various

countries for specific crimes, including sex outside marriage. These punishments employed for

sexual relations outside marriage, apart from constituting a form of violence in themselves, can

also deter victims of sexual violence from reporting the crime, because the victims may themselves

be punished (if they cannot prove their case, if they are deemed to have been in the company of an

unrelated male, or if they were unmarried and not virgins at the time of the rape).

Breast ironing

Breast ironing (also known as "breast flattening") is the practice of pounding and massaging the

breasts of a pubescent girl, using hard or heated objects, in an attempt to try to make them stop

developing or disappear. It is typically carried out by the girl's mother, with the aim of making the

girl less sexually attractive to men and boys, so that her virginity is preserved and she can continue

her education. It is practiced primarily in Cameroon, but has also been reported across other areas
in West and Central Africa. Breast ironing is very painful and can have negative emotional and

physical consequences.

Violence against immigrant and refugee women

Immigrant and refugee women often face violence, both in the private sphere (by partners and

other family members) and in the public sphere (by the police and other authorities). These women

are often in a vulnerable position: they do not speak the language of the country they are in, they

do not know its laws, and sometimes they are in a legal position where they may be deported if

they make contact with the authorities. Women who seek protection from armed conflict in their

countries of origin often face more violence while travelling to the destination country or when

they arrive there.

Sport-related

Sport-related violence against women refers to any physical, sexual, mental acts that are

"perpetrated by both male athletes and by male fans or consumers of sport and sporting events, as

well as by coaches of female athletes".

The documenting reports and literature suggest that there are obvious connections between

contemporary sport and violence against women. Such events as the 2010 World Cup, the Olympic

and Commonwealth Games "have highlighted the connections between sports spectatorship and

intimate partner violence, and the need for police, authorities and services to be aware of this when

planning sporting events".

Sport-related violence can occur in various contexts and places, including homes, pubs, clubs,

hotel rooms, the streets.

Sport-related violence by male college athletes

Violence against women is a topic of concern in the United States' collegiate athletic community.

From the 2010 UVA lacrosse murder, in which a male athlete was charged guilty with second

degree murder of his girlfriend, to the 2004 University of Colorado Football Scandal when players

were charged with nine alleged sexual assaults, studies suggest that athletes are at higher risk for

committing sexual assault against women than the average student. It is reported that one in three

college assaults are committed by athletes. Surveys suggest that male student athletes who

represent 3.3% of the college population, commit 19% of reported sexual assaults and 35% of

domestic violence. The theories that surround these statistics range from misrepresentation of the

student-athlete to an unhealthy mentality towards women within the team itself.

Controversy over contributing factors

Sociologist Timothy Curry, after conducting an observational analysis of two big time sports'

locker room conversations, deduced that the high risk of male student athletes for gender abuse is

a result of the team's subculture. He states, "Their locker room talk generally treated women as

objects, encouraged sexist attitudes toward women and, in its extreme, promoted rape culture." He

proposes that this objectification is a way for the male to reaffirm his heterosexual status and hyper-

masculinity. Claims have been made that the atmosphere changes when an outsider (especially

women) intrude in the locker room. In the wake of the reporter Lisa Olson being harassed by a

Patriots player in the locker room in 1990, she reflected, "We are taught to think we must have

done something wrong and it took me a while to realize I hadn't done anything wrong." Other

female sports reporters (college and professional) have claimed that they often brush off the

players' comments, which leads to further objectification. Other sociologists challenge this claim.

Steve Chandler notes that because of their celebrity status on campus, "athletes are more likely to
be scrutinized or falsely accused than non-athletes." Another contender, Stephanie Mak, notes that,

"if one considers the 1998 estimates that about three million women were battered and almost one

million raped, the proportion of incidences that involve athletes in comparison to the regular

population is relatively small."

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a form of intimidation using electronic forms of contact. In the 21st century,

cyberbullying has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers in Western

countries. On 24 September 2015, the United Nations Broadband Commissionreleased a report

that claimed that almost 75% percent of women online have encountered harassment and threats

of violence, otherwise known as cyber violence. Misogynistic rhetoric is prevalent online, and the

public debate over gender-based attacks has increased significantly, leading to calls for policy

interventions and better responses by social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Activism
A Russian poster urging people to open their eyes about domestic violence against women

Memorial in Minto Park, Ottawa, of the victims of the École Polytechnique massacre

Background and history

Activism refers to "a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in

support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue". In the activism for violence against

women, the objectives are to address and draw public attention on the issues of VAW as well as

seek and recommend measures to prevent and eliminate this violence. Many scholarly articles

suggest that the VAW is considered as a violation of human rights as well as "public health issue".

In order to better comprehend the anti-violence movements against VAW, there is a need to also

understand the generic historical background of feminist movements in a holistic manner. Talking

about the international women's movement, many feminist scholars have categorized these

movements into three waves according to their different beliefs, strategies and goals.

The emergence of the first women's movements, or so called the first wave of feminism, dated

back in the years the late 19th Century and early 20th Century in the United States and Europe.

During this period, feminist movements developed from the context of industrialization and liberal

politics that triggered the rise of feminist groups concerned with gaining equal access and
opportunity for women. This wave marks a period of "suffrage, independence, rights to nationality,

work and equal pay" for women.

The second wave of feminist movements was the series of movements from the period of the late

1960s to early 1970s. It was noted by feminist scholars that this wave could be characterized as a

period of women's liberation and the rise of a branch of feminism known as radical feminism. This

wave of feminism emerged in the context of the postwar period in society where other mainstream

movements also played a large role; for instance, the civil rights movements, which meant to

condemn capitalism, imperialism and the oppression of people based on the notions of race,

ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation. This wave marks a period of equal rights at home

and workplace as well as rights to development for the purposes of people of different races,

ethnicities, economic statuses and gender identities.

The third wave of feminism is the newest wave of feminism led by young feminists whose

understanding and context are of the globalizedworld order and the technological advances that

have come with it. Also, this wave is a transition of the fall communism to more complex issues

of new kinds of 'warfare' threats and violence. This new wave also "embraces ambiguity" and

introduced a feminist approach of 'intersectionality' that includes the issues of race, gender, age,

and class. Other than that, the third wave marks a period of feminism dealing with identity politics,

body politics as well as the issues of violence.

Papua New Guineans show their support for putting an end to violence against women during a

White Ribbon Day march

Nonetheless, the VAW movement was initiated in the 1970s where some feminist movements

started to bring the discussion on the issue of violence into the feminist discourse and that many

other groups, on the national as well as international levels, had attempted to push for the

betterment of women through lobbying of the state officials and delegates, demanding the

conferences on 'gender issues' and thus made the VAW known to a wider range of population.

Therefore, to put this into the theoretical context, VAW can be categorized along with the second

and third waves of feminism which share a focus on violence.

VAW activist movements come in many forms, operating at international, national, and local

levels and utilizing different approaches based on health and human rights frameworks. The

movements stemmed mostly from social movements and groups of women who see the need to

create organizations to 'lobby' their governments to establish "sanctuaries, shelters" and provision

of services that help protecting these victims, also called "battered women", from acts of violence.

The term "battered women" was used in a number of VAW movements and had its root in the

early stage of organizing efforts to tackle the problem of violence against women in many regions

of the world such as Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin American and the Caribbean. The activist

organizations against VAW, some with and the others without the support of their governments,

attempted to develop "innovative efforts" to assist battered women by providing them services

such as shelters and centers; drafting and lobbying governments to include the recognition and

language of VAW into national legislations and international human rights instruments;

advocating to raise the awareness of people via education and training sessions; forming national,

regional as well as international networks to empower the movements; organizing demonstrations

and gathering more efforts to end violent acts against women. In addition, many women's rights

activist groups see the issue of violence against women as a central focus of their movements.

Many of these groups take a human rights approach as the integral framework of their activism.

These VAW movements also employ the idea that "women's rights are human rights", transform

the concepts and ideas of human rights, which are mostly reckoned to be "Westernconcepts" and

'vernacularize them into the concepts that can be understood in their local institutions.

Achievements of the VAW movements

On the global level:

 The first major document that highlights the recognition of violence against women as a

human rights violation: the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence

Against Women in Vienna, 1993. It was a result of collective effort of global feminist

movement to transform the Vienna conference from a general and mainstream human

rights conference into the conference on women's rights. As before the other human rights

organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch did not focus on

the issue of VAW and did not consider rape and domestic violence as violations of human

rights despite of the fact that they also have agenda on women's rights.

 The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing During the 4th Women

Conference, VAW was emphasized and named as a critical concern. Also, the spillover

effect was that this push highlighted the need for the development of "new international

norms" that have often been used by activists and governments the proposition of

legislation that provide other action to redress the acts of violence.

 Subsequently, the push from the global feminist movement also push for the fully

incorporation of the VAW issues into the "Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
 Against Women" or CEDAW whereas the "original text of CEDAW in 1979 did not

explicitly mention violence against women.

On the regional level:

 Americas: the Inter-American Convention on Violence Against Women, which was

formally announced and adopted by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1994,

immediately after the Vienna Conference.

 Europe: The European Union (EU)'s initiatives to combat violence against women after

the 1990s: the 1997 resolution calling for a zero tolerance: specifically on UN human rights

instruments of CEDAW and the Vienna Declaration.

o The Council of Europe also developed "a series of initiatives" related to the issue

of VAW: "the 2000 resolution on trafficking, the 2003 resolution on domestic

violence, and the 2004 resolution on honor crimes" as well as promoted "the 2002

recommendation on the protection of women against violence and established its

monitoring framework".

 Africa:

o There emerged a series of regional meetings and agreements, which was triggered

by the UN processes on the international level such as Third World Conference on

Women in Nairobi, 1985; the 1993 Kampala Prep Com; the 1994 Africa-wide UN

women's conference that led to the identification of VAW as a critical issue in the

Southern African Women's Charter.

 Access to justice for female victims of violence

International and regional instruments

Efforts to fight violence against women can take many forms and access to justice, or lack thereof,

for such violence varies greatly depending on the justice system. International and regional

instruments are increasingly used as the basis for national legislation and policies to eradicate

violence against women.

The Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Eradicate and Punish Violence Against Women – also

known as the Belém do Parà Convention, for instance, has been applied by the Inter-American

Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in its first case of domestic violence to condemn Brazil

in the Maria da Penha case. This led the Brazilian government to enact in 2006 the Maria da Penha

Law, the country's first law against domestic violence against women. There is also, for instance,

the South Asian Agreement on Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) Protocol to End Trafficking in

Women and Children.

Examples of measures put in place

As violence is often committed by a family member, women first started by lobbying their

governments to set up shelters for domestic violence survivors. The Julia Burgos Protected House

established in Puerto Rico in 1979 was the first shelter in Latin America and the Caribbean for

"battered women". In 2003, 18 out of the 20 countries in the region had legislation on domestic or

family violence, and 11 countries addressed sexual violence in their laws. Legislative measures to

protect victims can include restraining orders, which can be found in Colombia, El Salvador,

Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela, Turkey, the United States and many western European countries

for instance.
Courts can also be allowed by law (Germany, 2001) to order the perpetrator to leave the home so

that victims do not have to seek shelter. Countries were urged to repeal discriminatory legislation

by 2005 following the review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2000. Egypt,

for instance, abolished a law that exempted men from rape charges when marrying their victims.

However, the goal of antiviolence legislation is often to keep the families together, regardless of

the best interests of women, which perpetuate domestic violence.

Innovative measures have been pioneered in a number of countries to end violence against women.

In Brazil and Jordan, women's police stations have been introduced, and one-stop women's shelters

were created in Malaysia and Nicaragua.

Marital rape has been illegal in every American state and the District of Columbia since 1993, but

is rarely prosecuted in America. In 2013 the UN General Assembly passed its first resolution

calling for the protection of defenders of women's human rights. The resolution urges states to put

in place gender-specific laws and policies for the protection of women's human rights defenders

and to ensure that defenders themselves are involved in the design and implementation of these

measures, and calls on states to protect women's human rights defenders from reprisals for

cooperating with the UN and to ensure their unhindered access to and communication with

international human rights bodies and mechanisms.

Challenges faced by women in accessing justice and limitations of measures

There can be a de jure or de facto acceptance of violent behaviors and lack of remedies for victims.

 Lack of criminalization: in many places, acts of abuse, especially acts such as female

genital mutilation, marital rape, forced marriage and child marriage, are not criminalized,
 or are illegal but widely tolerated, with the laws against them being rarely enforced. There

are instances where crimes against women are also categorized as minor offenses.

 Lack of awareness of the existing laws: in many places, although there are laws against

violence on the books, many women do not know of their existence. This is especially the

case with marital rape - its criminalization being very recent in most countries.

 Challenges in making a case in court: the burden of proof can be placed on the victim.

For instance in the Philippines, before a change in law in 1997, rape used to be described

as a crime against chastity; and virginity played an important role in court. In various

countries, such as Bangladesh, a woman's past sexual experience continues to be very

important in a case of rape. Bangladesh has received criticism for its employment of the

"two-finger test" in rape investigations. This test consists in a physical examination of

women who report rape during which a doctor inserts two fingers in the woman's vagina

to determine whether the woman is "habituated to sex". This examination has its origin in

the country's British colonial-era laws dating back to 1872. This deters many women from

reporting rape. More than 100 experts, including doctors, lawyers, police, and women's

rights activists had signed a joint statement in 2013 asking for the test, which they called

"demeaning", to be abolished, as it "does not provide any evidence that is relevant to

proving the offence". This test is also performed in several other countries in the region,

including India. It can also be difficult to make a case of sexual assault in court, when

members of the judiciary expect evidence of severe struggle and injury as determinative

evidence of non-consent. On the other hand, there are measures, such as the 2012 law in

Brazil, that allow for cases to be filed even without the representation of the victim.
  Existing laws are insufficient, conflicting, and have no effect in practice: some laws on

domestic violence, for instance, conflict with other provisions and ultimately contradict

their goals. Legal frameworks can also be flawed when laws that integrate protection do so

in isolation, notably in relation to immigration laws. Undocumented women in countries

where they would have, in theory, access to justice, don't in practice for fear of being

denounced and deported. The CEDAW Committee recommends that a State authority's

obligation to report undocumented persons be repealed in national legislation.

 The attitude of the police: women who report acts of violence most often come into

contact first with police workers. Therefore, police attitudes are crucial in facilitating a

sense of safety and comfort for women who have been victimized. When police officers

have hostile attitudes towards victimized women, these women are prevented from

obtaining justice. Recognizing these problems, some countries have enacted women's

police station, which are police stations that specialize in certain crimes, such as sexual

violence, harassment, domestic violence committed against women.

Measures to address violence against women range from access to legal-aid to the provision of

shelters and hotlines for victims. Despite advances in legislation and policies, the lack of

implementation of the measures put in place prevents significant progress in eradicating violence

against women globally. This failure to apply existing laws and procedures is often due to the

persisting issue of gender stereotyping.

Conclusion

Despite of formation of various effective rules and regulations by the Indian government to handle

and control the crimes against women, the number and frequency of crimes against women are
increasing day by day. Women status in the country has been more offensive and dreadful in the

last few years. It has decreased the confidence level of women for safety in their own country.

Women are in doubtful condition for their safety and have fear while going anywhere else outside

their home (office, market, etc). We should not blame the government because women safety is

not only the responsibility of government only, it is the responsibility of each and every Indian

citizen especially men who need to change their mind set for women.

Bibliography

1. Philpapers.org

2. Wikipedia/womensharassmentinIndia.com

3. Wikipedia/sexualharassment.com

4. Scribd.com

5. Nap.edu.in

6. Prscindia.com

7. NDTV.com

8. TheGuardian.com