The Ongoing Struggle Against Gender-Based Violence in India

In December 2012, a tragic incident unfolded when a 23-year-old physiotherapy student boarded a bus in New Delhi shortly after 9 p.m., expecting a safe journey home. Instead, she became the victim of a brutal gang rape and assault, during which she suffered grievous injuries, including severe damage to her intestines from an iron rod. This horrific act prompted widespread outrage across India, culminating in her death just days later, igniting a nationwide outcry for justice.

Nearly twelve years later, India finds itself engulfed in anger once again, this time in response to the heinous rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in a Kolkata hospital. The young doctor was attacked while resting in a seminar room after a long night shift on August 9. In the wake of this tragedy, thousands of doctors have gone on strike, demanding a safer work environment, and countless citizens have taken to the streets, calling for justice and accountability.

For a nation eager to establish itself as a global leader, these recurring instances of brutal sexual assaults reveal an unsettling reality: India, by numerous metrics, continues to rank as one of the most perilous places for women. Reports indicate that rape and domestic violence are alarmingly common, while conviction rates for such crimes remain disappointingly low.

This week, the Supreme Court of India has taken up the Kolkata case as a matter of fundamental rights and safety. The court is scrutinizing the actions of hospital administrators and police officials in their response to this grievous incident, emphasizing that new protective measures are urgently needed. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud remarked, “The nation cannot wait for another rape and murder for real changes on the ground.”

While gender-related violence is not unique to India, the country faces a distinct challenge. Even as millions of Indian women have entered the urban workforce over the past decade—achieving financial independence and contributing significantly to the nation’s rapid economic growth—they often find themselves bearing the heavy burden of ensuring their own safety.

Longstanding societal norms that restrict women and frequently confine them to domestic spaces have led to a situation where their safety in public environments is often neglected. Here are some of the challenges that women face:

• Public transportation can be particularly hazardous for women, especially during nighttime hours.
• Instances of sexual harassment are pervasive in public spaces, workplaces, and even within educational institutions.
• Families often impose protective measures, instructing daughters to remain vigilant and advising brothers and husbands to drop female family members off at work.

As India grapples with these pressing issues, the demand for systemic change and enhanced safety for women has never been more urgent.