LONDON: ‘The harm caused to victims and society by violence against women and girls in all its forms—including but not limited to harassment, stalking, rape, sexual assault, murder, honour-based abuse, coercive control—is immeasurable’.
As the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in West Bengal continues to rock India, a similar tragedy is unfolding in the UK.
Violence against women is now a national emergency according to a report from the National Police Chief’s Council. In 2022-2023 reported cases of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, harassment, exploitation and child abuse in England and Wales were 37% higher than in 2018-2019. There were 2.1 million victims of domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023. 20% of all reported crime is that of domestic violence. Between 2018 and 2023 one million crimes were committed against women and girls. On average 140 women have been killed by men every year since 2009 in the UK. So far this year upto the month of August 50 women have been killed by men. On Britain’s trains violent attacks as well as sexual assaults on women have gone up by more than 50% since 2021. It is also a matter of great shame that both in India and the UK members of public do not intervene even when they see an attack happening on a woman. A society that fails to protect its women and children will degenerate into a dystopian state.
According to a report prepared by Maggie Blyth, Deputy Chief Constable and lead in Violence Against Women and girls(VAWG):
‘The harm caused to victims and society by violence against women and girls in all its forms – including but not limited to harassment, stalking, rape, sexual assault, murder, honour-based abuse, coercive control – is immeasurable’. According to Blyth, ‘violence against women and girls is at such a scale that it cannot be addressed through law enforcement alone. 1 in 20 people are estimated to be perpetrators of VAWG per year, with the actual number thought to be significantly higher. Evidence shows many of these perpetrators will have touch points with a number of agencies outside of policing through their life, presenting opportunities for intervention. This includes health, education, local authority, voluntary sector and industry all working in tandem with the criminal justice system, sharing data and responsibilities to effect change’
The horrendous situation faced by women due to the violence of misogynist men is further compounded by the failure of police to bring culprits to justice in many cases. Only 1 in 6 rapes is reported by women due to fear of bringing the offender to justice. Only 1% of rapes lead to conviction. Blyth contends that women and girls have lost trust in policing. Hundreds of doctors and male nurses continue to practice despite being accused of sexual assault and rape in the last 6 years.The situation is so dire that a UN expert has urged the UK government to take urgent action to end all forms of violence against women and girls. The Conservative Party had proposed that the violence against women and girls be declared a National Threat like terrorism and organised crime. The new Labour government has also stipulated the same approach
India too needs to tackle crimes against women on a war footing. Rapid industrialization and the technological as well Digital revolution is radically changing the family structure. Individualism is replacing the collective lifestyle. However the society as a whole will have to fight this scourge of violence against women. Every family must drill into their sons that violence against women is the biggest crime. They will also have to drill in them that if they see a woman being attacked they must intervene because that woman is like your mother or sister. The mass protests we are seeing in Indian today and at the time of the rape and killing of ‘Nirbhaya’ eventually die down but the rapes and killings don’t stop. Similar mass protests took place in London when a rogue policeman raped and killed a young lady during the COVID time. The killings though have not stopped.
People, who matter in society will have to speak out. Film stars, sports personalities and above all spiritual leaders must speak out again and again. Gurus with millions of followers must speak out on the evils that bedevil society. Mandirs must also take up a new role of condemning social evils. Schools, colleges, universities, cultural, religious movements, in fact every facet of society, every profession, every home and housing society must be made to take an annual pledge for protection of women and children. Whenever a national anthem is sung it should be followed by a pledge to protect women and children. Young boys and males who show a propensity for violence not only towards humans but even animals must be reported to authorities by schools or other civic bodies and put through corrective measures. Those who have mental illness and are a threat to women and children should not be allowed to roam freely. Putting strict restrictions on alcohol consumption and closing down places selling illicit alcohol will be a small price to pay for protecting women. Films depicting violence against women and children should be banned.
India needs reformers who will transform the country into a place where there is true Ahimsa and compassion. India has a heritage which frowns upon killing even an insect, what to speak of human beings. On the occasion of Rakshabandhan let us resolve to eliminate all injustices towards women.