Elimination of Violence against Women
Lalit Garg
According to the report of National Crime Bureau-2017, the highest numbers of cases numbering 5562 were registered in Madhya Pradesh; while Rajasthan stood second in this list with 3305 rape cases. In Rajasthan, there has been a terrible mentality of killing girl babies as soon as they are born. With some thought and contemplation, we come to know that sexual harassment against women, including gossiping, eve-teasing, prostitution, forced pregnancy, buying and selling of women and girls, violent behaviour resulting from war and gruesome torture in prisons are rampant. It still continues against women and instead of decreasing, it is increasing.
Today, it is necessary to discuss general women of the society suffering from violence and oppression. It is unfortunate that women in developed and developing countries are under the shadow of oppression, exploitation, discrimination and harassment. Minority Rights Group International, in its annual report titled 'The Situation of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples', describes how women from minority and indigenous communities around the world are more likely to be victims of violence, whether in times of conflict or peace. . Mark Latimer, executive director of this organization, said that women across the world have to suffer the brunt of physical violence due to discrimination against minorities. This situation is frightening even in the context of India. Even though the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently doing commendable work for women empowerment, yet in the modern era, not only thousands of minorities, but also common women are far away from their full rights. Even though the government has prepared hundreds of schemes for women- upliftment, there is still a lack of education and awareness among women. Ignorant of their duties and rights, the world of women has been confined to the kitchen. Women of tribal communities in India are unaware of their rights and their life is still like a tragedy.
The mentality of regarding women as inferior and of secondary status has penetrated into every fiber of the Indian society. The real question is how to change this mentality. Over the years, the tendency to hide crime and fear the criminals has started to end, from movements like Metoo or the laws made after Nirbhaya incident. Therefore, such crimes may not be complete, but still they are coming to light in large numbers. An unjust person continues to do injustice, as long as he is tolerated. To create this belief among women, a fundamental change is also needed in the justice system and mentality. People in the country do not have complete knowledge about women's rights, and it is not followed with full seriousness and will-power. Despite all the claims of women empowerment, women are far away from their real rights. They have to understand that accidents do not choose the person and the time and it is not their fault that all this happened.
Not only the polluted and distorted ways of the male society have to be changed, but also the roots of those reasons have to be uprooted due to which women are forced to drink poison again and again. World Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an opportunity for non-governmental organizations, international organizations and governments to raise public awareness about violence against women. The world must pave the way for genuine respect for the human dignity of women, so that the work of securing their real rights can be practical. So that words like rape, gang-rape, women oppression, women violence cease to exist in this world.