CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

SK.SAFIA BEGUM,

LECTURER IN ECONOMICS,

S.C.WOMEN’S DEGREE COLLEGE,

KOTHAGUDEM.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Crimes Against Women are as old as civilization and equally ancient are efforts to combat and arrest them. These efforts have not succeeded and crimes are still maintaining their upward trend. There are records of women being raped, abducted, beaten and subjected to humiliating treatment. Ravan had abducted Sita and taken her to Lanka, the Kauravas had insulted Draupadi in full view of Raj Darbar. Dushasan had tried to denude her in the presence of all the respectable elders. Draupadi’s supplications for justice to all the elders present in the Durbar fell on deaf ears. No one did or perhaps could raise a voice against the injustice that was being perpetrated.The situation is still not very different, in spite of the march of civilization and enactment of special laws to protect women against such crimes.

The Crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)The Crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

• Kidnapping & Abduction for specified purposes Kidnapping & Abduction for specified purposes (sec363-373 IPC)(sec363-373 IPC)

• Rape (sec. 376 IPC)Rape (sec. 376 IPC)• Homicide for Dowry, Dowry deaths or their Homicide for Dowry, Dowry deaths or their

attempts ( sec.302/304-B IPC)attempts ( sec.302/304-B IPC)• Torture- both mental & Physical (sec.498-A IPC)Torture- both mental & Physical (sec.498-A IPC)• Molestation (sec.354 IPC)Molestation (sec.354 IPC)• Sexual harassment (sec.509 IPC)Sexual harassment (sec.509 IPC)• Importation of Girls (up to 21 yrs. of age) Importation of Girls (up to 21 yrs. of age)

( sec.366-B IPC) ( sec.366-B IPC)• Female Foeticide.Female Foeticide.

This attitude can be attributed to This attitude can be attributed to three factorsthree factors::

• A lack of awareness of the seriousness of the A lack of awareness of the seriousness of the problem.problem.

• The general acceptance of Men’s superiority over The general acceptance of Men’s superiority over women.women.

• The denial of violence by the women themselves due The denial of violence by the women themselves due to their cultural conditiong and social attributes.to their cultural conditiong and social attributes.

Crimes can be studied under Crimes can be studied under Three clusters. Three clusters.

1.1. SocialSocial

2. Personal and Psychological & 2. Personal and Psychological &

3. Legal.3. Legal.

SOCIAL CAUSESSOCIAL CAUSES

Patriarchal Structure of Society and Social Patriarchal Structure of Society and Social Conditioning.Conditioning.

Moral And Psychological Environment.Moral And Psychological Environment.

Broken Homes And Other Natural Tragedies.Broken Homes And Other Natural Tragedies.

PERSONAL AND PERSONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES

Personal traits of the Victim and Personal traits of the Victim and Victimizer Victimizer

Unemployment and PovertyUnemployment and Poverty AlcoholismAlcoholism ReligionReligion Lack of Proper Moral EducationLack of Proper Moral Education Marital MaladjustmentMarital Maladjustment Demands and ExpectationsDemands and Expectations

LEGAL CAUSESLEGAL CAUSES

The legal system is a reflection of the societal The legal system is a reflection of the societal attitude towards women. It is non-responsive to attitude towards women. It is non-responsive to her plight. The laws enacted for the protection of her plight. The laws enacted for the protection of women suffer from various short comings. The women suffer from various short comings. The enforcement of the laws is so poor that the enforcement of the laws is so poor that the offenders seem to have lost all fear of authority. offenders seem to have lost all fear of authority. They grow bolder because they are not caught, so They grow bolder because they are not caught, so they think that they can indulge in crime with they think that they can indulge in crime with impunity.impunity.

Inefficiency Of the Legal Machinery:Inefficiency Of the Legal Machinery:

The police is the first agency for the The police is the first agency for the Administration of Criminal Justice and is Administration of Criminal Justice and is considered to be the first line of defense considered to be the first line of defense against crimes.against crimes.

No society can exist or function with out the No society can exist or function with out the support of an organized police force yet in support of an organized police force yet in every part of the world.every part of the world.

According to According to Shoba SaxenaShoba Saxena in India police in India police inefficiency, corruption, connivance with the inefficiency, corruption, connivance with the guilty and the police-politician nexus has been guilty and the police-politician nexus has been the major cause of crimes against women. the major cause of crimes against women.

AP TOPS IN CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AP TOPS IN CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

A.P topped in crimes against women in 2007 A.P topped in crimes against women in 2007

• i.i. Sexual Harassment : 3316 (30.3%)Sexual Harassment : 3316 (30.3%)

• ii.ii. Torture : 11,335 (14.9%)Torture : 11,335 (14.9%)

• iii.iii. Indecent RepresentationIndecent Representation

of Women : 1005 (83.8%)of Women : 1005 (83.8%)

A.P CRIME DATA IN 2010A.P CRIME DATA IN 2010

Murders : 2,538Murders : 2,538

Attempts to Murder : 1,953Attempts to Murder : 1,953

Rapes : 1,362Rapes : 1,362

Kidnapping of Women : 2,053 Kidnapping of Women : 2,053

Dowry Deaths : 588Dowry Deaths : 588

Robbery : 550Robbery : 550

Dacoity : 134

Riots : 2,231

Thefts : 26,756

Hurt : 46,777

Criminality Rank Of State : 13

Total Cognizable crimes : 8.10 lakhs.

CONCLUSION: CONCLUSION:

Unless the self image of women undergoes metamorphosis and they Unless the self image of women undergoes metamorphosis and they stop thinking themselves inferior to men, there is little chance of stop thinking themselves inferior to men, there is little chance of improving the status of women.improving the status of women.

It should be imprinted in the minds from childhood itself that neither It should be imprinted in the minds from childhood itself that neither men nor women are superior, then only one can hope to attain a men nor women are superior, then only one can hope to attain a society where the atrocities against women are at a minimumsociety where the atrocities against women are at a minimum

Women in Indian Families pay more attention towards the Women in Indian Families pay more attention towards the nourishment of other members of the family and little towards nourishment of other members of the family and little towards their own. But this attitude must change and women must pay their own. But this attitude must change and women must pay more attention towards their health because unless they keep fit more attention towards their health because unless they keep fit themselves they cannot claim to be equal to the men.themselves they cannot claim to be equal to the men.

Legal Machinery should become more efficient in the administration of criminal Justice. Women must reject to pay Dowry and cast out a person who demands Dowry.

G.Sucharitha, Joint Director, Gender Programming Centre for World Solidarity says “If the Police is strict in dealing with the offenders, things would not have come to such a pass. One of the reasons why there are more crimes against women is that law enforcers do not deal with the offenders firmly”.

According to Women’s Rights activist Noorjehan Siddiqui “Women in A.P feel unsafe because the Government is also not sincere in ensuring their protection”.

Quote by Kofi Annan, Former U.N Secretary General

“Violence Against Women is perhaps the most shameful

human rights violation and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It

knows no boundaries of Geography, Culture or Wealth. As

long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real

progress towards Equality, Development and Peace”.

THANK YOU