Offences Against Women

Written by: Gunjan Ukey, BB.A.LL.B , 7th semester from Kalinga University, New Raipur

In India, women are respected and even worshipped as mothers, yet when it comes to discussing their rights and roles in society, they are often marginalized. Even after so many years of independence, if men continue to view women as incapable of living according to their own choices, or refuse to accept the rights given to them by law, how can we ever hope for true gender equality?

I have a few questions I would like to raise.

In the legal definition of rape, the term "consent" is clearly emphasized. However, despite the severe punishments like life imprisonment or even the death penalty, people still seem unafraid to commit this heinous crime. Even those in positions of power, like police officers, abuse their authority to commit rape, knowing that their power often shields them from consequences. Many times, those who speak up against such crimes are silenced.

When hospitals are involved in crimes against women, they often try to cover it up rather than addressing the issue. There are also cases where rapists commit these acts knowing the woman is pregnant or unable to give consent, and some even exploit other women to help them. When this happens, the lack of police support only worsens the situation. We hear these stories daily, yet no one seems to take a stand to stop it. It’s crucial that people become aware of their responsibility to pay attention to what’s happening around them. In public spaces, harassment like inappropriate touching or passing crude comments is a widespread problem. We need to address these issues at their root.

Change must begin in society. We must stop discriminating between boys and girls from a young age. Equality and respect for girls should be taught in schools and other educational institutions. We also need to reflect on whether we truly believe in equality for all, or if it's just something we say without meaning. Even today, many men do not consider women capable, and some even go as far as to kill daughters before they are born or harm them through outdated rituals. This mindset must be confronted, and society needs to hold people accountable for their actions—whether it’s families, public officials, or anyone else responsible for perpetuating this injustice.