PROLOGUE
“To call women a weaker sex is libel; it is man’s injustice to every woman. If by strength is meant brute strength then indeed is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she got greater institution is she not more self sacrificing, has she not greater power of endurance has she got greater courage? Without her man could not be there. If non violence is the law of our being the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart of man”? – Mahatma Gandhiji[1]
In the present scenario of modern world of science and technologies, the violence and increasing crime against women has been witnessed by everyone across the world. This situation has given rise to the enormity and pensiveness of the monstrosity that has penetrated against women since centuries. The crusade for the decimation of violence against women is a proof of fact of such situation of cauldron of depressed anger. Crime against women means direct or indirect physical and mental cruelty to women. Women is subjected to criminal hardships in different forms such as eve-teasing, molestation, bigamy, fraudulent marriage, rape, kidnapping, abduction, enticement to married woman, stalking, child abuse, harassment at working places. Almost every woman has gained tolerance towards and have experienced the feeling of mistreated, trivialised, kept out, ignored, assaulted, laughed or discriminated against because of her gender. One of the most vulnerable category of woman is who are prone to become the victim of crime is the single woman working who reach out f the world have to met with such crimes at working places. The changes in the living standard and lifestyles have change the social ethos and meagre concern of the moral values has contributed to the vicious outlook towards women due to which there has been increased crime against women. Crimes against women are matter of grave and utmost concern so that women around the world could live with dignity, respect, honour, liberty and in the atmosphere of peace and harmony free from degeneration, atrocities and heinous crimes. There are many legal provisions which punish the culprits of wrongs for committing such wrongs. The Indian Penal Code though provides for the provisions for women as victim of many crimes such as murder, rape, assault, kidnapping etc. With the need of an hour many new socio economic offences had been now committing against women across the world. The Criminal Amendment Act 2013, or Nirbhaya Act or Anti Rape Law, was passed by the parliament in the wake of barbaric rape of an intern at night, the incident shook the country and in the wake of widespread protest the government has passed this legislation to stringent the rape laws and laws related to the sexual offences with harsher punishment.
CLASSIFICATION OF LAW RELATED TO CRIME AGAINST WOMEN
The crime against women provided under special law as well in the local laws with the aim to obliterate the immoral and sinful practices against women in the society. Following are some of the Acts comprising of special provision to protect women and their interests.
Read – Right Of Anonymity Of The Victims Of Sexual Offences
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860
- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
- The Dowry (Prohibition) Act, 1961
- The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929
- The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
- The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act 1987
- Protection of Women from domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces (Prohibition, Prevention and Redressal) Act, 2013.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012.
CRIME AGAINST WOMEN UNDER INDIAN PENAL CODE
- Acid Attack (Section 326 A and 326 B)
- Rape (Section 375, 376, 376A, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376 E)
- Attempt to commit rape (Section376 and Section 511)
- Kidnapping and Abduction (Section 361 to 373)
- Murder, Dowry death and abetment to suicide (Section 302, 304B and 306)
- Cruelty by husband or relative (Section 498A)
- Outraging the modesty of women (Section 354)
- Sexual Harassment (Section 354 A)
- Assault on women with intent to disrobe a women (Section 354B)
- Voyeurism (Section 354 C)
- Stalking (Section 354D)
- Importation of girls (Section 366 B)
- Words, gestures or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (Section 509)
CONCLUSION
“It is not just women who are paying an enormous price for this culture and religious prejudice. We all suffer when women and girls are abused and their needs are neglected. By denying them security and opportunity, we embedded unfairness in our society and fail to make most of the talents of half the population”
The women in India has to come in the open, confront gender bias against her openly and there has to be social revolution which leads to the improvement in her status and health in the society and curb the prevailing patriarchal mind set. The time has come to raise voice against crime against women and every women irrespective of any discrimination deserves ti have equality, liberty and freedom of speech and expression belief faith and worship and equality of opportunity.
Swami Vivekananda one of the pioneers of women empowerment has rightly said;
“Soul has no sex; it is neither male nor female. It is the only body that sex exists and the man who desires to reach the spirit cannot at the same time hold sex distinctions. There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. Women have suffered for eons and that has given her infinite pains and infinite sufferings.”
[1] To the Women of India (Young India, Oct. 4, 1930)
