Violence Facts & Figures

Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. Global estimates published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that “about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.” The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reviews government reports on violence against women in their respective countries. In 2014, CEDAW’s conclusions highlighted several alarming points about the Indian government’s reports:

• They showed a stark increase in violent crimes against women, especially rape and abduction, indicating an increase by 902.1 per cent between 1971 and 2012, and continuing impunity for such acts.
• Escalation of caste-based violence, including rape, against women and girls.
• Marital rape is STILL NOT a criminal offence in India.

Sex Selective Abortion

A daughter is often seen as a burden for families in India. She may need a dowry payment to marry. Sex determination tests and sex selective abortion are illegal but still practiced.

• 2011 census (latest available data) for sex ratio in India: 939:1000
• 2011 census sex ratio in the state of Haryana: 861:1000
• 2017 Indian Ministry of Statistics ‘Youth in India’ report: “the Indian sex ratio is projected to decline further to 904 in 2021 and 898 in 2031."
• 2011 Lancet study (using national survey data and the 2011 census): “between 1980 and 2010 an estimated 4 to 12 million girls were aborted because of their sex in India.”

Domestic Violence

• National Family Health Survey of India 2015/16 :
  • 37% of ever-married women (15 – 49 years) have experienced partner violence (this figure could well be higher if older women and girls were also included in the survey).
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2019 statistics:
  • 125298 cases of cruelty by husband and his relatives under section 498A were filed by women and West Bengal has the 3rd Highest number of cases.
  • 30.9% of all crimes against women were committed by their husband and his relatives.

Rape

NCRB  2019 statistics:

• 32,033 cases of rape in India in 2019
• This equates to 88 rapes per day- 94% committed by people known to them including family members, friends, neighbours.
• 15.42% were rapes of a minor

Honour Killings

‘Honour’ related murders usually involve a girl or woman being killed by a family member for an actual or assumed sexual or behavioural transgression, including adultery, sexual intercourse or pregnancy outside marriage – or even for being raped. The murder may be orchestrated by more than one family member in response to the ‘dishonour’ brought on the family. 2019 NCRB statistics

• 24 incidents of honour killings in India in 2019
• The International Honour Based Violence Awareness Network estimates this number to be more like 1000 honour deaths in India per year

Unfortunately, due to lack of focused reporting and recording of honour killings it’s hard to know what the true figure is.

Dowry Deaths

Despite dowry payments for marriage being illegal in India, they remain widespread across caste, class and educational divides. These murders are when newly married women are killed by in-laws over conflicts related to dowry, such as bringing insufficient dowry to the marital family. 2019 NCRB statistics:

• 27 women killed/commit suicide due to dowry every day
• 2019 NCRB statistics: West Bengal has the 5th highest number of cases of dowry deaths after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh – this was 444 cases.

Kidnapping and Abduction

2019 NCRB Statistics:

• 200 women are kidnapped – to force to marry, for ransom, for sex every day

Acid Attacks

2019 NCRB statistics:

• 240 acid attacks in India
• West Bengal documented the highest incidence of acid attacks compared to other states

Acid Survivors Trust International research: total time taken for litigation around an acid attack case, from start to end, is between 5-10 years in India.