Violence against Women in India: Its Causes and Consequences: A Human Rights Perspective

IntroductionIn twenty-first century, despite dramatic accomplishments of human rights all over world, women's right continues to be a contentious issue as there are grave violations of women's human right across globe. In chequered history of mankind it is an evident fact that women have always been evaded from right to equality and freedom. And such discrimination results in violence against women which exists in each and every country, culture, class, ethnicity and age. The greatest irony is that though most of countries outlaw violence against women, it is practised under clutches of cultural practices and misinterpretations of various religious precepts. Consequently, violence against woman has resulted in curtailing her access to right to mobility, and this in turn not only restricts but also buries her right to education, dignity, freedom, livelihood, liberty, etc. The vulnerability of women makes them an easy prey for exploitation. Unfortunately, even in India position of women is not diverse from other countries as they are victims of violence in a large magnitude. On one hand India has witnessed desired success recognising it as one of superpowers in world and on other hand it is a disgraceful fact that women who form half of population are regularly victimized by violence against them in society. The daily reportage authenticates persistence of gender based violence in numerous forms prevalent in India.Violence against women has emerged has a serious social predicament in late 1960's, consequently research and writing about this curial issue have mushroomed in past four decades.1 The term violence against women has been used to portray an extensive range of acts which have perpetrated in form of murder, rape, sexual harassment, molestation, abuse, female infanticide, trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic violence, dowry death, pre-natal sex selection, etc. Violence means the expression of aggressive behaviour which is experienced as an unpleasant feeling state.2 In fact, violence refers to each and every kind of behaviour which either threatens or actually results in damage or injury to a person. The definition of violence comprises of multiple kinds of behaviour that are considered violence per se.3 The legal definition of violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, following:Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in household, dowry related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in education institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution; Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by State, wherever it occurs.4The definition of violence includes a wide range of acts which describes violence, however there is little consensus in still evolving field on exactly how to define violence against women.5 Fundamentally, focal point of violence against women lies in abuse of power which not only engenders inequality but also reinforces women's subordination within intricate and convoluted hierarchies of oppressions.6 Broadly speaking, violence against women results in exploitation and victimization which violates all known canons of human rights.A gamut complex and interconnected social, cultural and political factors have forced women as vulnerable to violence directed at them. Similarly, deep rooted historical inequality between men and women gives birth to various forms of violence against women. The next segment examines legal provisions for combating violence against women and also puts forth several forms of violence. …