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- 5:

1. 32% of ever married women aged between 18-49 have experienced spousal violence.
2. Of these 29% women face physical and sexual violence by their spouse.
3. Of these 25% women report physical injuries like eye injuries, sprains, dislocations or burns, deep wounds, broken bones, broken teeth or any other serious injuries.
4. 12.5% never married women face domestic violence.

• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 statistics:
  • 140019 women faced cruelty by husband or his relatives.

Rape

NCRB  2022 statistics:

• 31,516 cases of rape in India in 2022, of which 30,454 (96.6%) of the rapes were committed by persons known to the victim- family members or friends or neighbors or others
• This equates to 86 rapes per day
• 1,62,449 cases of crimes against children were registered during 2022. A majority of these cases related to kidnapping and abduction (45.7%) and 39.7% were filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

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. 2022 NCRB statistics:

• 6450 women died due to dowry.
• 2022 NCRB statistics: In West Bengal 406 women died due to dowry.

Kidnapping and Abduction

2022 NCRB Statistics:

• 85310 women were abducted and kidnapped.

Acid Attacks

2022 NCRB statistics:

• 124 acid attacks in India
• In West Bengal 31 women were acid attack victim.

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.

Abetted to Commit Suicide

2022 NCRB statistics:

• 4963 women were abetted to commit suicide.

Molestation

2022 NCRB statistics:

• 83344 women were assaulted with intent to outrage her modesty (18 years and above + below 18 years)