“Ending violence against women is not just a women’s issue, it’s a human rights issue.” This powerful statement from UN Women underscores the fundamental truth that violence against women is a violation of basic human rights and a profound societal failure. India, despite significant strides in economic and social development, continues to grapple with alarming rates of violence against women. From domestic abuse and sexual assault to trafficking and honor killings, women across the country face a multitude of threats that jeopardize their safety, dignity, and well-being. This article will talk about why this happens, how it affects women’s lives, and what we can do to make things better.
Crimes against women, including violence, harassment, and exploitation, remain a pervasive and deeply concerning issue. These crimes have devastating impacts on individuals, families, and society as a whole. They violate fundamental human rights and perpetuate gender inequality. Addressing this complex problem requires a multi-faceted approach that tackles both the root causes of violence and its consequences.
Statistics on Crime Against Women
- Over 4.45 lakh (445,000) cases of crimes against women were registered in 2022, averaging about 51 FIRs every hour.
- From 2016 to 2022, crimes against women rose by 26.35%, with 428,278 cases reported in 2021, the highest ever recorded.
- Approximately 1,220 cases of crimes against women were reported daily in 2022.
- The rate of crimes against women per lakh population stood at 66.4 in 2022, with Delhi recording the highest rate at 144.4 per lakh.
- Common crimes include cruelty by husbands or in-laws (31.4%), kidnapping and abduction (19.2%), and assault to outrage modesty (18.7%).
- Uttar Pradesh registered the maximum FIRs with 65,743 cases, followed by Maharashtra (45,331) and Rajasthan (45,058), contributing to over 50% of total cases in India.
- In 2021, there were 2,668 victims of cybercrimes against women reported.
- In 2022, there were approximately 31,000 reported sexual assault cases, highlighting a significant concern.
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Why do crimes against women happen?

It’s not just one thing, but a mix of problems:
- Sometimes, people think men are more important than women. This can lead to unfair rules and women being treated badly.
- Girls and women might not get the same chances as boys in school or jobs.
- Some people believe men should be in charge and women should obey. This can make it okay for men to hurt women.
- There are bad ideas about how women should look and act, which can make them feel like objects.
- When women are poor, they might not have a choice and can be easily hurt.
- If women don’t have a say in how things are run, it’s harder to protect them.
- Sometimes, the police don’t take crimes against women seriously.
- Even when someone is caught, they might not be punished enough.
Imagine a tree. The roots of the tree are the problems that make it hard for women to be safe. These roots are things like:
- Thinking men are better: This is like the biggest root, making the whole tree unhealthy.
- Harmful ideas about how women should be: These are like smaller roots, making the tree weak.
- Poverty and lack of power: These are like roots that don’t get enough water and sunlight, making the tree struggle.
- Laws that don’t work: This is like the ground the tree is planted in is rocky and dry, making it hard to grow.
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Existing Solutions and Their Limitations
Category | Solutions | Limitations Category | Details |
Law Enforcement & Legal Measures | Reporting crimes to the police | Challenges in Reporting | – Fear of retaliation- Lack of trust in the police- Stigma and shame associated with reporting- Lack of awareness about reporting procedures |
Investigations by law enforcement | Challenges in Investigation | – Lack of resources and trained personnel- Inadequate evidence collection- Delays in investigations- Corruption and bias within the system | |
Arrests and prosecutions | Issues with Conviction Rates | – Difficulty in proving cases beyond reasonable doubt- Lack of strong evidence- Witness intimidation- Judicial bias | |
Court trials and sentencing | Issues with Sentencing | – Lenient sentences for offenders- Lack of focus on rehabilitation and victim support | |
Social & Awareness Programs | Public awareness campaigns about gender-based violence | Limitations of Awareness Campaigns | – Limited reach and impact- May not effectively change deeply ingrained attitudes and behaviors- Can sometimes lead to victim-blaming or trivialization |
Educational programs on gender equality and respect | Lack of Sustainable Impact | – Short-term focus with limited long-term impact- Lack of consistent funding and implementation- Difficulty in measuring the effectiveness of these programs | |
Community outreach programs to support survivors |
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Women’s Safety: A Growing Concern

High Prevalence of Crimes Against Women:
- India faces a significant rise in crimes against women.
- NCRB 2022 data shows over 445,000 cases, an increase of 4% from the previous year.
- This translates to 51 incidents occurring every hour.
- Common offenses include cruelty by husbands/relatives, kidnapping, and assault.
Rape Remains a Serious Concern:
- Around 31,000 rape cases were reported in 2022.
- Despite legal reforms after high-profile cases like Nirbhaya and the Hyderabad veterinarian’s murder, the issue persists.
Women face vulnerability not only in public spaces but also in supposedly safe environments like hospitals (as seen in the recent Kolkata case).
The continued occurrence of such crimes highlights a significant gap between existing laws and their effective implementation.
Special Laws for Women’s Safety in India:
Law | Key Points |
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 | – Protects women from domestic abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, economic) – Provides legal remedies like protection orders and residence orders |
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 | – Mandates workplaces to establish internal complaints committees – Provides a framework for reporting and addressing sexual harassment |
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 | – Prohibits giving or receiving dowry – Aims to prevent dowry-related violence and abuse |
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 | – Criminalizes child marriage (below 18 for girls and 21 for boys) – Protects children from the consequences of early marriage |
National Commission for Women Act, 1990 | – Establishes the National Commission for Women (NCW) to protect and promote women’s rights- Investigate complaints and recommend measures for women’s welfare |
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 | – Legalizes abortion under specific circumstances (fetal abnormalities, rape, risk to woman’s life) |
POCSO Act, 2012 | – Protects children from sexual offenses (relevant to women’s safety, especially young girls) |
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 | – Prohibits indecent or offensive portrayal of women in media – Aims to prevent exploitation and objectification of women in public media |
Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 | – Prohibits the practice of Sati (widow immolation) – Criminalizes Sati and its glorification/encouragement |
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Crime Against Women
SR-No | Title | Download/Link | Date |
1 | Judgment of the Supreme Court of India in Criminal Appeal No.1441 of 2022 prescribing per vaginum examination (two-finger test) as one of the procedures to be adopted while examining survivors of sexual assault and rape. | Download (2.45 MB) | 30/04/2023 |
2 | Fifth Report of Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for the year 2021-22 | Download (392.8 KB) | 31/01/2022 |
3 | Mandatory action by police in cases of crime against women-reg. | Download (6.69 MB) | 09/10/2020 |
4 | Guidelines on setting up/strengthening of Women Help Desks in Police Stations; may be uploaded under Division-Women Safety Division, under the heading – Crimes against women. | Download (859.96 KB) | 10/01/2020 |
5 | Advisory dated 5.12.2019 from Union Home Secretary to States regarding timely and efficient investigation in cases of crimes against women | Download (4.8 MB) | 05/12/2019 |
6 | Advisory dtd 16.05.2019 reg “Failure to record information under sub-section (1) of Section 154 of Cr.P.C. punishable under Section 166A of IPC”. | Download (317.13 KB) | 16/05/2019 |
7 | Compensation Scheme was prepared by NALSA and circulated by MHA. | Download (6.58 MB) | 28/06/2018 |
8 | Writ Petition (C) No. 231/2010-Shakti Vahini vs. Union of India & ors.-Regarding | Download (640.79 KB) | 31/05/2018 |
9 | Actionable points on recommendations of the DsGPIIsGP Conference- 2016 held on 25-27 Nov 2016 at NPA Hyde(abad, Separation olaw & o.rdeduty from investigation- Regarding | Download (765.71 KB) | 23/05/2017 |
10 | Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme (CVCF) Guidelines Regarding | Download (1.38 MB) | 13/07/2016 |
11 | Deployment of Special Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) – safety and security of women – regarding | Download (129.22 KB) | 22/06/2016 |
12 | Incidents of crime including murder, abduction, rape, exploitation, atrocities, and attacks on Scheduled Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) | Download (1.45 MB) | |
13 | Abolition of Devadasi System | Download (19.15 KB) | 22/12/2015 |
14 | Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme (CVCF) Guidelines | Download (1.26 MB) | 14/10/2015 |
15 | Advisory on Comprehensive approach to crimes against women | Download (1023.26 KB) | 12/05/2015 |
16 | Investigative Units for Crime Against Women (IUCAW) | Download (56.12 KB) | 01/05/2015 |
17 | Compulsory registration of FIR u/s 154 Cr.P.C. | Download (64.06 KB) | 05/02/2014 |
18 | Advisory on increasing the number of women in Police forces in the states | Download (55.04 KB) | 22/04/2013 |
19 | Preparation of a victim Compensation Scheme for the victim of crime in view of the insertion of a new Section 357-A in the Cr.P.C. through ‘the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008 | Download (2.33 MB) | 07/09/2010 |
20 | Advisory on Crime against Women ( 04 .09 .2009 ) – Measures needed to curb | Download (50.44 KB) | 04/09/2009 |
21 | Advisory on Crime against Women ( 05.05.2004 ) – Measures needed to curb | Click Here | 05/05/2004 |
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