THE GLOBAL CRISIS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

I. ABSTRACT

Violence against women is an act for which the women or other young girls are suffering the worst experience of their life such as sexual assault, rape, eve teasing, molestation, criminal intimidation etc. For these crimes they attempt suicide have been facing from depression, anxiety etc.

Keywords: Violence against women, gender, sexual assault, inadequate conduct, domestic violence, sexual violence etc.

II. INTRODUCTION

The term “violence against women” refers to any act which is a gender-based violence that is likely to result in physical, sexual or mental damage to women, including intimidation of such acts like coercion or arbitrary loss of liberty, whether happening in public or private life. International instruments are directing to remove violence against women which have been enacted by many international organizations.

The Istanbul Convention of The Council of Europe (stopping and obstructing violence against women) narrates violence against women as infraction of human rights and a type of disunity against women. In 1993, The United Nations General Assembly Resolution first elaborated the term “violence against women” and stated for its elimination. It also states that violence is originated in the discrimination between men and women when the word violence is exercised jointly with the word gender-based. There is a well-known quote on violence against women that is, violence against women is no ways unavoidable. We, in person can switch this daily, in every place, all over the world where women and girls suffer from violence, but this is a social rule that can be distorted. This quote is originated from Oxfam (a global confederation of twenty-two independent organizations working for putting an end to the injustice of poverty and inequality around all over the world).

III. DEFINITION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The phrase ‘violence against women’ describes to various classes of detrimental conduct pointed at women and girls because of their sex. One of the most broadly adopted definitions of violence against women has been constituted by The United Nations, which is following…..

• Article 1 of the declaration on the elimination of violence against women states that any gender-based violence which is likely to result in physical, sexual or mental injuries to women, along with intimidation of such acts like coercion or arbitrary loss of liberty, whether happening in public or private life.
• Article 2 of the declaration on the elimination of violence against women by The United Nations narrates and points out many types of violence like violence against women not just only includes physical, sexual and mental damages or injuries in the family and the community but also includes spousal banging, sexual abuse of female kids, dowry death related offenses, rape including conjugal rape, female genital dismemberment, non-spousal offenses, sexual abuse at work and educational entities, coerced prostitution etc.

IV. THEORITICAL CONTEXT

Violence against women is originated in not the same power relations between men and women in the social order and can be nicely comprehended within the gender outline. Gender is a socio hypothesis whereas sex is a by birth type. Gender also describes to broadly shared prospects and customs within the social order about absolute masculine and feminine conduct, features and roles. In this way, the role of the gender provides a stern classification of workforce while women have to maintain highly responsible duties such as taking care of the domiciliary, children, looking after of the senior citizen of the family. The gender role also frames that women and girls have a never-ending tolerance that is they have to bear all of the above things without any objection. And this is not the end, women are mentally tortured and judged by the nowadays society if they don’t perform those duties which are assigned for them.

The framework of the roles of gender indicates that the women don’t have right to take their own resolution as being comparative to men, which makes an end in discrimination between male and female gender in the society. Inadequate conduct and injustice to a female child upbringing and care towards her make them susceptible and weak for living in the society.

V. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: CLASSES AND DEMONSTRATIONS

There are various forms of violence against women in India, because of which many women and girls are tolerating throughout their entire life such as Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence (it also includes sexual abuse of children) and Pre-Birth Elimination of Females (PBEF). There are some reasons for transporting all of the above offenses into the community boundary which are following….

• The family members of a woman or girl is nowadays more dangerous to the woman than the outside public. This bitter truth destroys the apologue that the family is the most harmless area for a woman or girl. A report of The National Crime Records Bureau in the year of 1999 displays that cruelty by husband and dowry death interrelated crime are happening around 36% of all violence against women verified by the police officers. [1]
• There is a very less official information of the crimes against women for the absence of proper papers, evidences and reporting. Most of the information, crime report and conceptual proof on such offenses specifically sexual violence and sexual abuse of children is formed on characteristic exploration occurred by the non-governmental entities.
• In offenses like domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse of the children, the patriarchal society even the family becomes silent if the accused belongs from one of the family members. So, as a consequence, the above-mentioned types of violence, although broadly persistent are not usually reported to the police station and are not investigated.

A. Domestic Violence:

Violence in home is being extensive and it is one of the reasons for which many woman and girls are suffering very much in our society. This not only occurs in poor and rural family but also happens in rich and urban families. It is being far-reaching across all regions, class and caste etc. Domestic Violence means any offence which includes unequal conduct towards girls, beating of spouse, mistreatment and cruelty of daughter-in-laws and abandonment of widowed women in a family. [2] Mainly the accused person in these crimes came out as the father, husband and even son of the victim.

Types of Domestic Violence 

It includes……

• Physical abuse such as hitting, slapping, and kicking, burning, steadying, consuming materials to cause losses and manipulation over reproduction and health etc.
• Mental abuse such as intimidations, pointing out the list of what a woman can do or can’t do, orally abusing, not allowing the woman to go anywhere and insulting her parents etc.
• Sexual abuse such as rape, molestation, sexual assault, unwanted touching etc.

Recent reports regarding Domestic Violence

• In 2025, The National Commission for Women got many objections about domestic violence, assault and criminal threats which are the most numerous objections.[3]
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) in (2019-2021) gave an information about married life violence faced by women that 31.2% of all married women whose age is within (18-49) suffered physical or sexual spousal forcefulness during their married life.[4]
• As per the report of The British Broadcasting Corporation, many women are nowadays dying because of inadequate dowry. It is also reported that one dowry death recorded every 77 minutes of a year.[5]

Necessary laws to deal with Domestic Violence

• Section 498A of The Indian Penal Code, 1860 refers physical and mental torture committed by the husband and his relatives. This is a cognizable and non-bailable offence. Cruelty means that any act which manipulates a married woman to commit a suicide or to do anything dangerous which cause injury to her life or health. Also in this case, the husband or his relatives insults the family members of the married women.
• Section 304B of IPC deals with dowry death of a married woman and its punishment.[6]
• Section 174 of The CrPC amended by The Criminal Law Act, 1983 states that the polices have to investigate in case of suicides attempted by women and in case death happens of a married woman within 7 years of her marriage.[7]
• Section 113A of The IEA refers that if a married woman commits suicide and that occurred into death within the 7 years of her marriage by her husband or his relatives, then the Honourable Court may assume the suicide has been abetted by her husband or his relatives.[8]

B. Pre-Birth Elimination of Females (PBEF):

Pre-Birth Elimination of Females is the most horrible types of violence which occurs within the family. This is a warning to the existence of infant child and is a demonstration of the philosophy of ‘son preference’ in the society. The Medical Science assures how to determine the sex of the infant and after that the families decide that whether they let the female infant to born or not.

Current data and reports regarding the PBEF

• According to the 2001 Indian Census, it submitted a report which shows an enduring deterioration in children sex ratio whose age is within (0-6) years along with 927 girls per 1000 boys pointing to broad practices like female foeticide. This propensity showed a down societal importance for female children, it only favours the son children.
• The 2001 Census also shows that States such as Punjab and Haryana suffered less child sex ratio in 2001 because of these types of discrimination between male and female infants or children.[9]

C. Sexual Violence:

Sexual Violence is a violation of basic human liberty which is to exist with sexual self-worth and without danger and fear. Sexual violence has many types which are harassment, molestation, rape under or beyond marriage, sexual harassment in workplace, public place, at home etc. The accused may turn out any family member, stranger or any known person.

Data and reports on Sexual Violence against women

• Sexual Violence against women is an obstinate violation of human rights, for this offence most of the women worldwide suffering physical or sexual close companion violence or non-partner sexual violence once in their existing life.
• According to UNICEF, more than 370 million young girls and women worldwide experienced sexual assault, eve teasing once in their life. And the most inclusive information survey about young girls’ and women’s experience on sexual violence occurred in between (2010-2022) in 120 countries and its boundaries.[10]
• As per The National Crime Records Bureau, the numeral of registered rape cases in India have been distended by 873.3% from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206 in year of 2011.[11]

Necessary laws to deal with sexual violence against women

• Section 376 of The IPC states the offence or crime of rape or sexual intercourse against a woman’s will or without her consent may subject to rigorous imprisonment not less than ten years which can extendable to life imprisonment.
• Section 354 of The IPC provides sentence for assaulting or forcing a woman with the intention to disgrace her dignity.[12]
• In August 1997, The Honourable Supreme Court gave some guidelines about sexual harassment such as constructing the work area safe for women and operating the organizations or entities to prevent and stop the cases.[13]

VI. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women has severe economic, social and health consequences overall the society. For this offence, not only women or young girls as individual person are suffering but also it affects their family members, whole groups, economic situations etc.

• Violence against women – a public health problem: Violence against women is a very dangerous issue which harms the public health. This distresses any woman’s physical and psychological well-being, sexual and even procreative health, self-respect and capability to work. For this offence any women can attempt to suicide out of depression, anxiety and force by the patriarchal society. There are a number of entities which are working for the mental and health impact of the women who have been suffered from such sexual violence like CEHAT (Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes) a hospital-based counselling organization which helps to improve the mental and physical health of the women who had faced those violence.
• Violence against women – An Economic Problem: Violence against women has a direct and crucial economic impact over the families and relatives of the women who have been suffered from the sexual, domestic violence etc. For example, the health cost of the victim who has been suffering from violence against women like rape, physical torture, mental torture etc. affects the family income if there is only one earning member in the family. It can also affect a child’s security, morality and social dignity etc.
• Violence against women – A Social Problem: Violence against women is a hindrance for the enhancement of the social problem poverty because this charges higher costs for the judicial step to get proper justice. This violence also inhibits the women to do any act or work freely or without permission.

VII. MEASURES TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

There are various measures and special programmes for preventing the violence against women which are taken by many state and non-state actors, organizations and entities which are following…..

• The voluntary sector has been initiating an alternative approach for resolving the cases in violence against women like The Nari Adalat or Mahila Panchayat conducted by women who are dealing with the cases like sexual harassment, rape, assault, criminal intimidation etc.
• The Government has initiated support services to the women who are the victim such as mental counselling, psychological and social needs for the better improvement.
• Also, the Government passed The Commission of Sati Prevention Act, 1987 to prevent the practice of Sati.
• The Government also passed The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 to point out the minimum age for girls of 18 and for boys of 21 to conduct marriage.

VIII. CONCLUSION

In essence, violence against women is increasing in the society very rapidly. The Government has taken some measures to prevent such violence against women. So, we, general public must assure to make the workplace, public place any area safe for the women and not to prevent them on taking their own decisions for dealing with their own life.

IX. REFERENCES

• STATUTES

1. The Indian Penal Code, 1860
2. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
3. The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

• ONLINE ARTICLE

1. International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) for UNFPA India, “Violence against women in India”, (2004) < https://india.unfpa.org > accessed on 6^th September 2025

[1] UNFPA India, https://india.unfpa.org (last visited Sept. 5, 2025)

[2] UNICEF South Asia, https://www.unicef.org (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[3] The Hindu, https://www.thehindu.com (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[4] National Institutes of Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[5] BBC, https://www.bbc.com (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[6] The Indian Penal Code, 1860, & 498A, 304B, No. 45, Acts of Parliament, 1860 (India).

[7] The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, & 174, No. 2, Acts of Parliament, 1974 (India).

[8] The Indian Evidence Act, 1872, & 113A, No. 1, Acts of Parliament, 1872 (India).

[9] SSRN, https://papers.ssrn.com (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[10] UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[11] National Institutes of Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (last visited Sept 6, 2025)

[12] The Indian Penal Code, 1860, & 376, 354, No. 45, Acts of Parliament, 1860 (India).

[13] Research and Information System for Developing Countries, https://www.ris.org.in (last visited Sept 6, 2025)