LAW

&
Violence
against
women

Made By: Pooja

Lakra(20llb061)
 Introduction

Violence against women is a global

problem occurring in every culture
and social culture. Violence against
women typically means the crimes
committed against women of any
age, caste, and creed. The crimes can
be of any kind usually, they include
murders, abuse, molestation, rape,
and infanticide.
Violence against women is largely
unreported. Fear and stigma often
prevent women from reporting
incidents of violence or seeking
information.
 The number of crimes
committed against women in
India keeps rising every year. In
2012, the crimes against
women in India accounted for
6.4%, which meant in an
average within three minutes,
a woman fell victim to
violence. It is a preventable
cause of morbidity and
mortality in women.
Violence against women occurs
throughout the life cycle from
prebirth, infancy, childhood,
adolescence, adulthood to old
age.
 Facts and
Findings
 As per World Health Organization (WHO) findings
about 1 in 3 (35%) women worldwide have
experienced either physical or sexual intimate
partner violence or non-partner sexual
violence in their lifetime.
 Violence against women – particularly intimate
partner violence and sexual violence – is a major
public health problem and a violation of women's
human rights.
 Globally, 38% of murders of women are
committed by a male intimate partner.
 Violence can negatively affect women’s physical,
mental, sexual and reproductive health, and may
increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.
 Predisposing Factors

 Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have low

education, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to
domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of
alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting
of violence, and a sense of entitlement over women.
 Women are more likely to experience intimate partner
violence if they have low education, exposure to mothers
being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and
attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, and women’s
subordinate status.
 There is evidence that advocacy and empowerment
counselling interventions, as well as home visitation are
promising in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence
against women.
 Situations of conflict, post conflict and displacement may
exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, as
well as non-partner sexual violence, and may also lead to new
forms of violence against women.
 Causes
• Gender Disparity: is one of the deep rooted cause of violence
against women that put women at risk of several forms of
violence.

• Discriminatory gender norms and gender

stereotypes results into structural inequality.
• Psychiatric Morbidity: Generally refers to the incidence of
both physical and psychological deterioration as a result of a
mental or psychological condition, generally caused due to the
consumption of alcohol.

• Regular consumption of alcohol by the husband has been

strongly associated with poor mental health of women.
• Alcohol operates as a situational factor, increasing the
likelihood of violence by reducing inhibitions, clouding
judgment and impairing an individual's ability to interpret
cues.
• Sociodemographic factors: Patriarchy has been cited as the main
cause of violence against women. Where women have a higher
economic status than their husbands and are seen as having sufficient
power to change traditional gender roles, risk for violence is high.
• Family factors: Exposure to harsh physical discipline during childhood
and witnessing the father beating the mother during childhood is a
predictor of victimization and perpetration of violence against wife in
adulthood.
• Traditional and cultural practices:

• Female genital mutilation: Can lead to death, infertility, and long-

term psychological trauma combined with increased physical
suffering.
• Acid attacks: Acid attacks have emerged as a cheap and readily
accessible weapon to disfigure and sometimes kill women and
girls for reasons as varied as family feuds, inability to meet
dowry demands, and rejection of marriage proposals
• Sociocultural factors disfavoring
women:
Stereotypes of gender roles have
continued over the ages.
• The primary roles for women have
been marriage and motherhood.
• Women must marry because an
unmarried, separated or divorced
status is a stigma.
• The custom of dowry is still prevalent
in Indian marriages.
 Law That Protect Women From Domestic
Violence

• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,2006

• Special Marriage Act,1954
• Dowry Prohibition Act,1954
• Indian Divorce Act,1969
• Equal Renumeration Act,1976
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act),2013
• Indecent Representation of Women(Prevention)Act,1986
• Maternity Benefit Act,1861
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
• According to the international Research Centre for women,
almost 47 percent of girls are married before the age of 18. In
2019,India ranks 13 in the world when it comes to child
marriages.
• It was made effective in year 2007 .This act defines child
marriage as a marriage where the groom or the bride are
underage, that is, the bride is under 18 years of age or the boy
is younger than 21 years .
• Parents trying to marry underage girls are subject to action
under this law. Since the law makes these marriages ,illegal, it
acts as a major deterrent.
Special Marriage Act,1954
• The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is an Act of the Parliament of
India which is enacted to provide a special form of marriage
for the people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign
countries, in certain cases, for the registration of such and
certain other marriages and for divorce, irrespective of the
religion or faith followed by either party.
• The marriages solemnized under the Special Marriage Act are
not governed by personal laws, nationals in foreign countries,
in certain cases, for the registration of such and certain other
marriages and for divorce, irrespective of the religion or faith
followed by either party. The marriages solemnized under the
Special Marriage Act are not governed by personal laws.
• It is not applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and also
extend to intending spouses who are Indian nationals and
living abroad.
Dowry Prohibition Act,1954
• According to this act ,giving or taking dowry at the time of
marriage to the bride or the bridegroom and their family is
to be penalised. Dowry system, giving and talking of dowry is
a norm of India. To promote marital and family harmony. To
effectively work for creating a dowry free society. To provide
a base to fight against the abuse of dowry laws. To create
awareness about the present cruelty/dowry/harassment
related laws and their damaging effects on the family.
• It is one of the major challenges that our society is grappling
with. Women openly complaining about it has helped to
spread the world and encourage other women to take a
stand.
Indian Divorce Act,1969
• The Indian Divorce Act allows the dissolution of marriage,
mutual consent ,nullity of marriage , judicial separation and
restitution of conjugal rights.
• Family Courts are established to file, hear and dispose of
such cases.
Indecent Representation of Women(Prevention)Act,1986
• This act prohibits indecent representation of women through
advertisement or in publications , writings, painting ,figures
or in any other manner.
Maternity Benefit Act ,1861
• This act regulates the employment of women and maternity benefits mandated by law.
• It states that a woman employee who has worked in an organisation for a period of at least 80
days during the 12 months preceding the date of her expected delivery is entitled to receive
maternity benefits, which includes maternity leave, nursing breaks, medical allowance, etc.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,
2013
• To ensure women’s safety at workplace, this Act seeks to protect them from sexual harassment
at their place of work. Thirty-six percent of Indian companies and 25 percent among MNC’s
are not complaint with the Sexual Harassment Act according to a FICCI-EY November 2015
report.
• Sexual harassment at workplace also includes – the use of language with sexual overtones,
invasion of private space with a male colleague hovering too close for comfort, subtle touches
and innuendoes.
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
• This Act prevents discrimination in terms of remuneration.
• It provides for payment of equal recompense to men and women workers.
• It is necessary to know these and other laws in place to protect the interests of women.
• Only if you are aware of your rights can you fight against any injustice meted out to you at
home, at the workplace, or in the society.
 Remedial Measures
• Use Social Media -Social media has an empowering effect send articles, with the click of a button, you
can spread the word. Youth do not need the mainstream media to voice their views!.
• Report – Report photos that exploit girls and young women when you see them on social media sites
like Facebook and Instagram.
• Be media literate and critical -Be critical of what you see otherwise it become normalized and we are
desensitized! The media regularly uses images of violence against women and objectifies girls and
women to sell products. Women are also objectified in movies, music and magazines. If you see an add
or commercial that is sexist and degrading towards women – write or e-mail the company and don’t by
their products.
• Interrupt sexist/homophobic and transphobic language - Words are powerful, especially when spoken
by people who have power over others. We live in a society where words are used to put girls and
women down. Gendered name-calling is used and sends the message, that, girls and women are less
than fully human. When girls and women are seen as inferior, thus, it becomes easier to treat them
with less respect and ignore their rights. Changing the way you speak can change the way you think. 
• Educate community members on their responsibilities under international and national human rights
laws.
• Promote the peaceful resolution of disputes by including the perspectives of women and girls.
• Stop street harassment - Don’t engage in any forms of sexual harassment, such as catcalling, and
unwanted touching. And don’t let your friends and peers engage in those behaviors either! It’s
not just enough that you don’t engage in those behaviors, be empowered to speak up against
friends and peers who do! Don’t look the other way!
• Educate yourself on the roots of violence -Violence against girls and women stems in male
dominance and the socialization of men. Become educated on the roots of violence against girls
and women! Read books and articles, join a group at school and attend any training available to
you. Learn about the myths and realities of gender violence and understand how our society
condones it.
• Be aware of resources for girls and women -Support girls and women by providing information
on where they can get further support and safety. Familiarize yourself with the resources for girls
and women in your community, including women’s centers, counseling centers and health service
organizations. Be a positive resource for girls close to you by sharing information and making
referrals.
Conclusion
• Violence against women is a chosen
action against a women or a girl child
simply because of her gender, simply
because she is female.
• Violence against women cuts across
race, religion, income, class and
culture.
• Violence against women is deeply
embedded in all cultures, so that
millions of women considered it a way
of life.