Broken Justice: India’s Women Pay the Price

According to the International media, upper caste Hindus use sexual violence against Dalit women as a weapon in India

India is a country where safety and respect of minorities, especially the low caste community, is always at the mercy of radical elements. Keeping this in view, it comes as no surprise that during the 10 years of Modi's rule in India, there has been a sharp upsurge in cases of sexual assault against minority women.

Sexual violence against minorities, especially Dalit women, has increased manifold. According to the International media, upper caste Hindus use sexual violence against Dalit women as a weapon. Muslim and Christian girls are also disproportionately affected by sexual violence, with many cases being ignored or downplayed by authorities.In this regard, the recent report of Oxford Human Rights has raised many questions on the India's justice system which has failed miserably to build a wall against the floodgate of sexual violence against women.

Due to weak prosecution, rapists go scot-free while victimized families stumble for justice. Clearly, the Indian higher judiciary has failed despondently in providing justice to women. The low conviction rate for perpetrators effectively signals impunity, emboldening potential offenders. Official statistics paint a disturbing picture: annual rape cases have consistently exceeded 30,000 since 2012, climbing to over 40,000 in 2023/2024. The country's capital, Delhi, records an average of four rape cases daily. Due to these troubling metrics, India has been ranked among “Top 5 unsafe countries for women”. India's failure to address sexual violence and protect its women has also earned it the notorious reputation of being the "rape capital" of the world. The pervasive nature of sexual harassment has not only tarnished the country's reputation but also made it hazardous for both domestic and international female travelers.

The epidemic of sexual misconduct has penetrated even India's military establishment, with mounting cases of harassment against female service members. Notable cases include sexual harassment of Lady Captain by Maj General RS Jaswal, IG Assam Rifles, and another incident involving Maj Gen’s inappropriate conduct with female cadets in Gujrat. In 2013, Indian government implemented a law titled “Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace” to curb the increasing trend of crime. However, unfortunately, the legislation has proven largely ineffective in safeguarding women. As per the survey of Trishant Simlai, a researcher at the Cambridge University, the Indian Wildlife camera traps, drones and other technology for monitoring wildlife are being used to intimidate, harass and even spy on women in India.

The strategic interests of world powers and the Indian economic clout have always rescued New Delhi from accountability, thereby exposing the double standards of the so-called champion of Human Rights. For the past few decades, various international watchdog, including Human Rights Watch, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Amnesty International have limited their role merely to condemnation. Their lackluster approach is a tacit approval to Indian Human Right abuses. While the low caste Indian community and minorities look towards the World community with hope, it's high time for the International community to stand with the voiceless and aggrieved community. Unless India is held accountable for its crimes against women, there can be no respite to suffering of humanity, especially women.

The writer is a freelance columnist