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Context: Crimes against women in the Capital increased by over 21% in 2021

Details:

• Delhi Police revealed that Crimes against women in the Capital increased by more than 21% in 2021 as compared with the previous year.
• In rape cases; 99% of the accused arrested were first time offenders, 46% of the cases involved family members or friends, while 11% involved a neighbour.
• On an average 5 rape cases were registered per day in the Capital in 2021.
• In 2021, Cases of molestation rose by 17.5%, as compared to 2020.

Challenges in addressing women Safety:

• Lack of Reporting
• Slow Criminal Justice System
• Inadequate Implementation of law
• Poor Gender Sensitization of law enforcing agencies like Police, Judiciary etc
• Various Social factors like level of education/illiteracy, Poverty, Social Customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the Society
• Exclusion by Technology
• Lack of infrastructure Such as Safe Spaces for women, Safe transport Systems, Proper toilets make it a dangerous Place for women and girls.
• Hostile Environment of investigation to victims of Sexual violence.
• Social Conceptions of Shame and victim-blaming
• Much of Sexual violence happens within marriage, and marital rape is not a Crime.

Steps taken by the Government:

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, to address the declining Child Sex Ratio.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
• Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme, to promote community participation through the involvement of Student Volunteers for the empowerment of rural women
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income-generating activities at concessional terms
• Swadhar Greh to provide relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.
• Ujjawala, a Comprehensive Scheme for the prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
• Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence.
• One-Stop Center and Women Helpline are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counseling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.
• Panic Button on Mobile Phones, Emergency Response Support System Set up under Nirbhaya Fund.
• Inclusion of Acid Attack as disability
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Penalizes Giving & taking.
• SABLA Scheme, Providing life Skills and Supplementary nutrition to out of School girls - Working Women Hostel.
• Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)
• National database on Sexual offenders, include name, address, Photograph and fingerprint details of those Convicted in Sexual assault Cases

Steps to ensure women Safety:

• Strengthening Criminal Justice machinery
• Strict implementation and monitoring of the laws and Schemes and Strengthened enforcement.
• Strengthening of Alternate Dispute resolution mechanism like Lok Adalat.
• Provide Self-defense Training
• Gender Sensitization of the law enforcement agencies, especially Police and Judiciary.
• Adopting zero tolerance Policy, Moral education through awareness and education.
• Promoting Social and economic empowerment of women through Policies and Programmes.
• Economic empowerment of women through Property rights, Create awareness about their Rights.
• Ensuring gender friendly Public Spaces
• Equal access to Nutrition, Health, and education
• Adopt a life Cycle approach to empowerment of girls and women.
• Gender equality and violence Prevention Programmes can be introduced in Schools and Colleges.
• Strictly regulate the Sale and distribution of acid.
• Marital rape Should be made an offence irrespective of the age of the wife
• Khap decisions, and all those involved in them, that lead to honor killings or violent Crimes must be Criminally Punished.
• Increase the representation of women in the Judiciary, both at higher and lower levels.
• All Police Stations must have a women and Child Protection des
• Number of women in Police Should be increased
• Installation of CCTV, Mapping of dark Spots & Crime-prone areas

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/rape-cases-continue-to-surge-in-the-capital-latest-data-shows/article65081905.ece

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