CRIME AGAINST WOMEN VIS-A-VIS LAWS AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES FOR WOMEN IN INDIA

Crime is an illegal act that has existed in our society for all of recorded time. Historically, these acts have always been committed against the most vulnerable members of society as a whole. Women are one of these weaker groups. In the twenty-first century, women's situation in traditional Indian society is abhorrent. Rape, murder, dowry deaths, human trafficking, kidnapping, and abductions against women are on the rise despite the existence of multiple laws and sanctions. While women face numerous challenges from the embryonic to their deathbed, the Indian Constitution's Article 14 and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Article 7 both mention equality before the law. Despite the fact that numerous laws and regulations have been created to protect women, the number of crimes committed against them rises daily and annually. Around 1 crore cases of crimes against women were registered under the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in the last five years till 2023. In India as well as throughout the world, violence against women is on the rise; these victims are harmed sexually, physically, mentally, and financially. The disturbing global scope of this violence was brought to light by numerous studies that emphasized its prominence and called for an increasing amount of research. Studies have also shown that some categories of women—minority groups, women from indigenous and migrant communities, women incarcerated or in institutions, women with impairments, women with young children, and elderly women—are more vulnerable than others. Although there is yet no cure for crime, there is a treatment for it. The first step toward a better society with fewer violent episodes is educating girls. Campaigns to alter attitudes and raise awareness about gender inequity among men and boys are useful instruments. As responsible citizens and individuals, we must raise awareness of and report any acts of violence against women that we come across.