Violence against women

How many among us know that 'November 26' is celebrated as World Anti-Obesity Day and how many know that 25th day of November is declared as the "International Day for Elimination of Violence against women" ? Well, if you really never heard about it, let me enrich your knowledge. The General Assembly of UNO designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, by resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, and invited all concerned to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem .Three Mirabal sisters were brutally assassinated by the political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo in 1960. Since 1981, women's activists have marked 25th November as a day against the violence targetted towards women. the General Assembly adopted declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women on 20 December 1993.

In spite of the prosperity, globalization and education, we have failed to eliminate the violence against the women. We, the Indians, worship woman as a Godess, regard her as a mother, love her as a wife and she is most affectionate to us as a daughter but still we commit violence against her. As per the statistics available, every 3rd minute a case of violence against woman is registered in India. Every day 50 cases of dowry related violence are reported and every 29th minute a woman is raped. One can argue that why this is happening? Are not their sufficient laws to prevent such mishappenings? Or the society is not mature enough to deal with such things. There is no need to be surprised. Everything is there. There are laws to prevent violence against woman, there is police to keep a check on these events and there are seminars and symposiums to make recommendation. However, on ground level nothing seemhs to be working.Above cases are just reflection of violence against woman. There are incidences of unstripping of women in nandigram and Guwahati but these incidences are not reflective of a developing economy and growing society but a decadent society which is not bothered about human dignity as stated by Dr Ranjana kumari, President of Women power Connect, a NGO in India. She has rightly suggested the observation of a "National Shame Day" every year to rahighlight the attrocities committed against women.There are other social evils also due to which Indian women suffer. I'll discuss all these in brief.

1. Witchcraft: Several women are killed on pretext of practicing witchcraft. If a child is suffering from a disease in neighbourhood, a woman living nearby may be made victim alleging that she is a witchcraft and that particular child is suffering because of her doing. In fact old scores are settled this way. Women are blamed for doing mischief and tortured or killed after sometime. How fair is this justice? A poor helpless woman is killed and no action is taken against the culprits. These cases are more prevalent in tribal area where they make their own rules and police becomes helpless against the mob. Strict action need to be taken in such cases but who will dare to go against the people as they serve as vote bank to politicians.

2. Devdasi: girls in their childhood are made Devdasi's to serve God in the temple and they have to leave their home and stay in the temple complex. These girls grew up in the shelter of priests in the temple and when they are grown up, most of them are exploited.

3. Sati:This custom is prevalent in India since a long time. Although it is prohibited as per law but still few cases are reported from some parts of the country. When husband dies, woman also has to die as per this customary practices. Some powerful group want to keep this custom alive and draw political advantages out of it. Women are worshiped who cast themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands.

4. Dowery: This is the worst crime against the woman next to rape. A married girl (bride) is burnt to death or killed or tortured by her in-laws and husband for not providing/giving enough gifts or money to their in-laws by her parents. About 50 cases per day are registered all over India. Only solution to this problem is encouragement to inter-cast marriages or love marriage. Other alternative may be to outcast people from the society.

5. Exploitation at work place and in schools: Though these cases are seldom reported but it is a known fact that women are exploited at their work place and girls suffer as a student in their school. However, it is not applicable to all schools or workplace.

6. Rape: All rape cases are not reported to police but if you consider only reported cases, a woman is raped in india every 29th minute. This shows the gravity of the problem. Laws are not very strict for such type of violence against woman. Few years back, there was a move on government part to award capital punishment in such cases bit it did not materialised. Sad part of the story is that in most of the cases culprits are either close relatives, friends or known persons.

7. Victims of blackmail: New technology has madewoman more prone to blackmail. Use of spying camera, mobiles equipped with camera and other cheaply available devices have made it convenient to make MMS clip or video clip and thereafter conversion of these into CD or DVD's.

8. Sex determination: Ratio of girls child to male has declined as a result of sex determination of a child during pregnancy. If it is found to be a female it is aborted by the parents. Most prosperous states of northern india have developed the practice of aborting female foetuses, once identified in the womb. However, one should never forget that every person in this world enters alongwith his/her own luck. I know a lady when she was pregnant and after sex determination she came to know that child she is bearing is a female, she made attempts to get it aborted but her husband did not agree to it. At present, that girl holds a very high position in a MNC and her mother never get tired appreciating her in front of all. So please think before committing such a cruel act. You are not knowing about the future of girl child you are attempting to kill.

9. Cyber crime against women: In a recent seminar increase in cyber crime against women was discussed. A police officer informed that 90 cases of cyber crime against women were registerd in a small city by the police. Only a small number of cases are reported to police. Few days back police arrested an Engineer of a reputed private firm on charges of blackmailing girls and women with whom he did chat regularly and retrieved information related to contact and photographs and threatened them to put their photographs on net.

10. Throwing acid: The most heineous and severe punishment deserving crime against women is throwing strong acids like sulphuric acid on the face of the girls or women.

11. Other forms of violence against women:Girl child are sold for a petty amount of money and sometimes girls are sold in the name of marriage also. Many of them end up as prostitutes or bar girls. In fact, women in India face double punishment. Not only they are forced to act as sex workers but also subject to police torture time and again as prostitution in India is not legalized. Bar girls also face this problem. Even these ladies catch several diseases and die due to lack of proper health care. Other forms of violence against women include forcing them to flesh trading, honour killing etc. Honour killing is killing females if they revolt against their families/relatives and decide to marry with males of other caste or religion.

It is not only in India that violence is committed against women. There are other countries in South Asia and Gulf countries where women suffer due to attrocities committed against her by male dominated societies. However, India is large country so average appears shocking at first look.

To highlight this issue I'll add periodically important crimes being committed against women time and again in India :

• Case in Mumbai: Two young girls molested by a mob (about 70 people) on a thorughfare in front of a five star hotel on the eve of New Year (January 1, 2008). Action taken: police action being taken. Several people arrested and paraded in front of eye witnesses

How to stop violence being committed on pretext of alleged witchcraft practice: This sort of violence is visible only in tribal belts of eastern India.There is a need for stringent action against the culprits. Action need to be taken in all the cases. Science has made so much advancement and still people believe in such nonsense things like witchcraft. Illiteracy and blind following of religion are the main root causes of problem. Police always becomes mute spectator in such cases and does not take action for fear of local disturbances and people protest. Politics also plays its role and government representatives never raise voice against such incidences for the fear of losing its vote bank.

How to stop violence commited in forms of customs like "Sati" and "Devdasi"?

Incidences like "Sati" has considerable reduced due to public awareness but more action is needed in form of public protest against the "Devdasi" custom. This form opf violence may be stopped by exposing the truth behind this custom. Laws need to be formulated to stop this practyice.

How to stop "Dowry" deaths?

This is the most serious problem prevalent in different parts of the country. Constitutional provisions are already existing to prevent dowry deaths but there is no stoppage to occurance of this problem. Inter-caste marraiges, love-marriages, increased education and employment to girls may help to a limited extent to eliminate this form of violence against women. Decrease in female population in India is indirect effect of dowry system. Parents

prefer to have male child for fear of paying dowry and facing difficulties in getting their girls married. marriage of girls.

How to stop the rape cases: As I said earlier, stringent action need to be taken against the culprits.Brave campaign by women organizations in India compelled Govt. to amend laws time and again. Recently Indian Government has decided to clear a package of amendments to the code of criminal procedure towards making the law relating to rape more rogressive and responsive to the needs of victims. The proposal includes the provisions for speedy trials, recording the statements of the victims at places of their choice, investigation of cases by women police officers and hearing of cases in most probabilioty by women judges. These amendments will help reducing the mental agony of rape victims.

Empowerment of women

Since Indian society is male dominated society, empowerment of women does not seem an effective solution of this problem. Results of providing representation to women in local governing bodies did not appear fruitful. However, reservation to women in education and jobs may be more effective then their direct participation in policy making. Women in India at this juncture don't have capabilities to provide women a safe heaven as mostly their decision making is influenced by males. However, providing women adequate representation in parliament and other executive bodies may help them in future in making policicies oriented toward women.

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Indian women can approach the following organizations for help:

1. National Commission for Women

4, Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Marg,

New Delhi-110 002.

91-11-23237166

91-11-23236988 Fax : 91-11-23236154 Complaints Cell : 91-11-23219750

Email : ncw@nic.in

Complaints can be made online by login to website

1. Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women

   2nd Floor, Budha Bhavan (Near Boats Club)
   Secunderabad - 500003
   Chairperson : Ms. Susheela Devi
   Ph.: 040-7542071, 7660196

2. Assam State Commission for Women

   Bal Bhavan, Uzan Bazar,
   Guwahati - 781001
   Chairperson : Ms. Basanti Sharma
   Ph.: 0361-2524875

3. Bihar State Commission for Women

   11 South Beily Road,
   Patna, Bihar
   Chairperson : Ms Manju Prakash

4. Chattisgarh State Commission for Women

   E 2, Vivekanand Nagar
   National Highway Colony, Raipur
   Chattisgarh
   Chairperson : Ms Hamwanti Porte
   Ph.: 0771-429232

5. Delhi State Commission for Women

   G - Block, IInd Floor,
   I.P.Estate
   New Delhi - 110002
   Chairperson : Ms Anjali Rai
   Ph.: 011-23379150, 23378936

6. Goa State Commission for Women

   GMC(OFS)Complex
   Panaji, Goa
   Chairperson : Dr.(Mrs.) Promod D. Salgaonkar
   Ph.: 0832-2421080(O) 0832-2257736(R)

7. Haryana State Commission for Women

   Koth No. 683, Sector 7
   Panckula
   Chairperson : Ms Sheela Bhayan
   Ph.: 2597824, 2597994

8. Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women

   Kaushal Niwas, Stokes Place
   Simla - 171002
   Chairperson : Ms Malvika Pathania
   Ph.: 98105-92172

9. Karnataka State Commission for Women

   Ist Floor, KHB Building
   Cauvery Bhavan, K.G. Road,
   Bangalore - 560009
   Chairperson : Ms Philimena Peris
   Ph.: 080-2216486 Fax: 2216485

10. Kerala State Commission for Women

    DPI Junction, Thyacaud P O
    Thiruvananthapuram - 695014
    Chairperson : Ms M. Kamalam
    Ph.: 0471-2320509, 2337589, 2322590

11. Maharashtra State Commission for Women

    Griha Nirman Bhawan
    Mezzanine Floor
    Bandra East
    Bombay - 400051
    Chairperson : Ms. Nirmal Sawant Prabhawalkar
    Ph.: 022-26454739(O) 26455858(R)

12. Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Women

    Old Secretariat, Vidhyak Aawas
    Bhopal - 462003
    Chairperson : Ms. Dr. Savita Inamdar
    Ph.: 0755-2531421, 98270 31855

13. Mizoram State Commission for Women

    Mission Veng, Aizwal
    Mizoram
    Chairperson : Lal Niquvi
    Ph.:2335991

14. Orissa State Commission for Women

    697 Shaheed Nagar
    Bhubaneswar - 751000
    Chairperson : Ms. Namita Panda
    Phone: 0674-2503879, 2544715

15. Punjab State Commission for Women

    2125, Sctor 15 C
    Chandigarh
    Chairperson : Smt. Surinder Kaur Grewal
    Ph.:0175-212135(R) 0172-783607(O)

16. Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women

    100 Anna Salai, Guindy
    Chennai - 600032
    Chairperson : Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi
    Phone: 044-2200375

17. Tripura State Commission for Women

    Melarmath, Agartala
    Tripura West-799001
    Chairperson : Ms. Manjulika Basu
    Ph.: 0381-2323355, 22322912

18. West Bengal State Commission for Women

    Second Floor, 10 Rainey Park
    Calcutta - 700019
    Chairperson : Mrs. Jasodhara Bagchi
    Ph. : 033-24745608, 24751324

2. Confedration of Human Rights Organizations, Keralam, India

Dr. Abdul Salam Secretary, CHRO

5/3274-A, Bank Road Kozhikode Kerala India 673 001

+91.9847320011

• Based in Kerala, the Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) stand to protect, uphold and strengthen the rights of traditionally exploited and oppressed marginalized social segments of Tribals, Dalits, Minorities, Backward Castes, Women, Children and victims of State Violations.

or may visit CHRO's site and lodge their complaints.

3. Lawyers Collective Women's Rights Initiative (WRI)

63/1, Masjid Road, Jungpura - Bhogal New Delhi 110014 Tel: 24373904, 24372923, 24376925 Fax: 24373993

email: wri.delhi@lawyerscollective.org

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