The recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata underscores the ongoing brutality against women in 21st-century India.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “India will only truly achieve independence when a woman can walk freely on the streets at night.”

Reasons Behind the Lack of Women’s Safety in India

1. Economic Dependence
   Women’s lack of financial independence limits their ability to protect themselves from abuse.
   • Dowry Death: Of the 3,449 cases of dowry death cases disposed off by the courts in 2022, 64 per cent were disposed of without a trial and only 35 per cent of the tried cases resulted in a conviction. 
2. Property Rights
   Many women are denied property rights due to entrenched social norms.
3. Disproportionate Representation
   Men dominate leadership roles, missing the opportunity to fully recognize and utilize women’s contributions.
4. Labour Force Participation
   Women mostly work in the informal economy, lacking social protections.
5. Workplace Violence
   Despite the POSH Act, reported cases of workplace harassment have risen, and under-reporting remains high due to fear and societal biases.
   • In 2022: India Justice Report, which surveys the state of law enforcement, said it would take 24 years to reach the police’s target of 33 per cent female representation.
6. Cultural Norms and Misogyny
   Misogynistic attitudes and cultural norms contribute to victim-blaming and normalize sexual violence.
7. Weak Legal Systems
   Ineffective legal responses and lack of severe penalties for perpetrators foster a culture of impunity.
8. Patriarchy and Gender Inequality
   Patriarchal structures perpetuate gender inequality and violent expressions of dominance.
9. Inadequate Public Safety
   Poor infrastructure, such as inadequate lighting and unsafe transportation, increases women’s vulnerability to crimes.

   Some effective ways communities can come together to enhance women’s safety in public spaces: 

• Comprehensive Legal Review
  • Spectrum of Crimes: Address the full range of crimes against women with appropriate legal responses. Penal provisions should be graded based on the severity of the offense, distinguishing between serious crimes like sexual assault and less severe forms of harassment. Immediate legal action is necessary, and victims should not have to endure prolonged delays before receiving justice.
• Fast-Track Trials
  • Efficient Justice: Develop a criminal justice system that can investigate and prosecute crimes against women swiftly. This will help expedite justice and reduce the trauma for victims.
• Stronger Punishments
  • Deterrent Effect: Ensure that serious crimes lead to substantial prison sentences to create a real deterrent. Long delays in court proceedings should not undermine the effectiveness of the legal system.
• Prevent Extrajudicial Compromises
  • Enforce Legal Integrity: Courts must prevent extrajudicial compromises, where victims are coerced into settlements due to lengthy legal processes or societal pressures.
• Education and Awareness
  • Gender-Transformative Approaches: Implement educational programs that promote gender equality from a young age. Use innovative methods, such as interactive games, to engage both men and women in these initiatives.
• Raising Awareness
  • Community Involvement: Civil societies, faith-based institutions, and government bodies should work together to raise awareness about gender-based violence. This can be achieved through social media campaigns, community workshops, and public education efforts.
• Changing Cultural Attitudes
  • Cultural Reform: Address and transform cultural attitudes that perpetuate gender-based violence through comprehensive education and public awareness campaigns.
• Increasing Support Services
  • Survivor Support: Enhance support services for survivors, including counseling, legal aid, and safety resources.
• Data-Driven Interventions
  • Targeted Programs: Design and implement intervention programs based on data and research to effectively address the specific needs and challenges faced by women.

People power has brought attention to the plight of women in India. But that is no longer enough. For meaningful change, policymakers need to reform the institutions that can directly improve the lives of half the population. Women in the world’s largest democracy deserve that.