Vigil in Guwahati Highlights Ongoing Violence Against Women in India

A Vigil for the Victim of Violence in Guwahati

A vigil was held on Saturday for the tragic murder of a woman in Guwahati, India, highlighting the ongoing crisis of violence against women in the country. Credit: Anupam Nath/Associated Press

A Harrowing Reality for Women in India

This week, the Supreme Court of India took up the harrowing case of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a hospital in Kolkata earlier this month. The incident has shocked the nation, sparking doctor strikes and widespread protests across the streets. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud addressed numerous failures in the official response to the heinous crime, emphasizing the urgent need for reform.

The victim’s name remains undisclosed under Indian law to protect her dignity. In a significant development, the police apprehended a 33-year-old man who served as a volunteer at the police post within the hospital premises. Additionally, three senior officials at the hospital have been dismissed from their positions, reflecting the serious nature of the lapses in safety and security.

Context: Despite some progress, India continues to be one of the most perilous places for women globally. Incidents of rape and domestic violence are alarmingly frequent, and the rates of conviction remain dismally low. The tragic fate of the trainee doctor echoes the memory of a physiotherapy student who was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi twelve years ago, an incident that ignited national outrage and calls for change.

Related: In a related concern, the sugar industry is currently under scrutiny to enhance oversight practices, following a Times investigation that uncovered that many women in India are trapped in debt bondage and are being coerced into undergoing unnecessary hysterectomies.