ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: SCHEMES, CHALLENGES, WAY FORWARD

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Context

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, established by the UN General Assembly in 2000.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Observed annually on November 25th, is a United Nations-designated day to raise global awareness and trigger action against gender-based violence (GBV). 

It marks the start of the '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence', which concludes on Human Rights Day (December 10th).

The theme for 2024 was “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls”, urging citizens and governments to show solidarity with women's rights movements and invest in preventive strategies.

Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner (Source: WHO). Despite progress, significant legal gaps persist; for example, marital rape is still not explicitly criminalized in dozens of countries, and domestic violence laws are absent in over 40 nations (Source: World Bank).

Current Status of Violence Against Women (VAW) in India

Factors Increasing Risk of Violence Against Women (VAW)

Individual and Relationship-Level Factors

Low education levels, exposure to abuse during childhood, and harmful use of alcohol can increase the risk of perpetrating violence. At the relationship level, conflict, male controlling behaviour, and power imbalances are major drivers. 

Community and Societal-Level Factors

Patriarchal norms, discriminatory laws, and beliefs justifying male superiority enable an environment where violence is tolerated or ignored, especially in communities with high gender inequality, weak law enforcement, and limited economic opportunities for women.

Technology-Driven Factors

The digital age has introduced new forms of abuse, including cyberstalking, doxxing, and the creation of non-consensual deepfakes. Key issues include:

• Anonymity: AI-driven tools and online anonymity embolden perpetrators.
• Deepfakes: An estimated 96% of all online deepfake videos are non-consensual pornography, and the vast majority of these target women. (Source: Harvard).
• Legal Gaps: Many countries lack specific laws to effectively prosecute technology-facilitated GBV, leaving millions of women unprotected against online harassment and abuse.

India’s Measures to Address Violence Against Women

Constitutional Provisions

The Constitution ensures Equality (Article 14), prohibits discrimination based on sex (Article 15), and protects the Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21). Article 15(3) empowers the state to make special provisions for women.

Supreme Court Judgements

Key Legislative Framework

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Replaces the IPC. Stricter penalties for crimes against women, including life or death for minor rape. Mandates audio-video recording of survivor statements.
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005: Civil law. Broadly defines domestic violence (physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, economic). Offers protection, residency rights, and monetary relief.
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act, 2013: Requires Internal Committees (IC) in workplaces (10+ employees) to address sexual harassment. The SHe-Box portal allows online complaints.

Institutional and Scheme-Based Support

Global Prevention Framework: The RESPECT Model

To achieve SDG 5.2 (eliminate violence against women), WHO and UN Women developed the RESPECT framework, outlining seven key prevention strategies:

• R - Relationship skills strengthened: Promoting healthy, respectful, and non-violent relationships.
• E - Empowerment of women: Enhancing women's economic and social autonomy.
• S - Services ensured: Making essential services (health, justice, social support) accessible and safe for survivors.
• P - Poverty reduced: Addressing economic stressors that can trigger violence.
• E - Environments made safe: Creating safe public spaces, schools, and workplaces.
• C - Child and adolescent abuse prevented: Addressing early-life risk factors and promoting positive parenting.
• T - Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms: Challenging gender stereotypes and promoting norms of equality and respect.

Way Forward 

Strengthen Grassroots Justice

Empower and expand community-based mechanisms like Nari Adalats to provide speedy, accessible, and low-cost justice, reducing the burden on formal courts.

Enhance Implementation & Capacity Building

Ensure adequate and timely funding for schemes like OSCs. Conduct regular gender sensitization training for police, judiciary, and administrative officials to foster a survivor-centric approach.

Drive Behavioural Change

Integrate gender sensitization modules into school curricula as envisioned by the National Education Policy, 2020.

Actively engage men and boys in discussions on gender equality and respectful relationships.

Run sustained public awareness campaigns using mass media to challenge patriarchal mindsets.

Leverage Technology for Safety

Promote safety applications, panic buttons, and GPS tracking. Simultaneously, strengthen legal frameworks and cyber-crime cells to combat technology-facilitated abuse effectively.

Ensure Accountability

Implement regular social audits of women's safety schemes to identify gaps. Improve data collection mechanisms for evidence-based policymaking and effective monitoring of outcomes.

Conclusion
Achieving the elimination of violence against women requires a sustained, society-wide effort focused on dismantling patriarchal structures, ensuring effective policy implementation, and cultivating a culture of gender equality and respect through strengthened grassroots mechanisms and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.

Source: PIB