DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND INDIA : UN WOMEN REPORT

Justice is still out of reach for thousands of women in India with the acceptance of violence being a general mindset, said the report launched by UN Women’s flagship report on world’s women progress.
Addressing issues like marital rape, domestic and sexual violence, gender inequality etc, the survey done in the report suggest that 39 per cent men and women in India think that it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife.
According to the report, 63 per cent of women in India, between the age group of 15 and 49 years, lack autonomy in their homes which is defined as having no say in any of the vital everyday decisions, including own health care, large household purchases, purchases for daily needs and visits to family or relatives. India also significantly lags behind the rest of the world with women being just 3 per cent of the judges.
UN Women, the United Nation’s new organisation for women has called on the government to take urgent action to transform justice system and laws for women in India. Some of the key recommendations of the report include employing more women police, providing legal aid and awareness for women, creating specialised courts, implementing gender-sensitive law reforms.

Talking about women presence in politics and public life, the report said that much needs to be done to ensure that women can access justice and achieve their rights. “The report has found that the existing laws are inadequately enforced. Many women avoid reporting crimes due to social stigma, prohibitive costs, expensive legal advice and weak justice systems.The report has also emphasised employing of women on the front line of justice services and police officers.

“Data shows that there is a positive correlation between the presence of women police officers and reporting of sexual assault. Recruitment of women police officers and resourcing of gender desks must be part of a broader strategy to train the police to adequately respond to women’s needs