Literature Review

1. RITU DHANOA (2008):

The author of the article titled "Violation of women human rights in India" pointed out that
despite the fact that the constitution of India guarantees equal rights to both men and women,
there is a significant gap between the legislation and its actual application. Women in India
have always been seen as being of lower social status than males. In spite of the fact that
women make up half of the population, they continue to experience discrimination and
violations in every aspect of their lives. In addition to being victims of rape, dowry, bride
burning, sexual harassment, prostitution, and trafficking, they are also victims of a variety of
other crimes. However, despite the fact that the government of India is adopting a number of
measures to improve the situation of women in the country and asserting that women in India
are enjoying the same status as males, women in India have been suffering from the past and
continue to face a variety of forms of discrimination and injustice even in the present day.
Throughout their lives, women are subjected to discrimination in some form or another. At
different points throughout her life, she has been subjected to a variety of sorts of prejudice.
As soon as she entered the mother's womb, she was subjected to sex-determination tests,
which ultimately led to feticide and female infanticide. This was the beginning of the
prejudice that she eventually experienced. There is a circumstance in which she is being
murdered by her own people, with whom she ought to feel comfortable and secure if she
were to come into the world. By doing so, we are demonstrating that women are denied their
right to life. In addition to this, She was subjected to many forms of violence throughout her
life, including but not limited to child marriage, dowry harassment and bride burning, rape,
and domestic abuse. At various points in her life, she has been subjected to violations of her
rights to education, political rights, property rights, the right to protection of her health, the
right to get equal remuneration for equal labor, and the ability to live with dignity. All of the
female children in today's society were unable to finish their higher education. According to
estimates, almost sixty million young women in India do not have the opportunity to get the
benefits of elementary education. In spite of the many steps that were taken, the percentage of
women who are represented in the Lok Sabha was not enough to attain 10%. Still, the culture
that is controlled by males has not entirely embraced the participation of women in politics.
When it comes to property, women do not have the right to hold property in their own name,
nor do they get a portion of their father's property, which means that they are unable to reap
the benefits of inheritance. According to the findings of a number of studies, the nutritional
intake of a girl in the family is much lower than the intake of a boy, which results in a serious
deterioration of the girl's health state. It has been shown in a great number of studies that
women get lower pay than males for doing the same work. There is a significant gender pay
gap in the agricultural sector, with women earning between 30 and 50 percent less than
males. A woman's body, space, and self-respect are all violated when she is subjected to eve
teasing, which is not uncommon in today's society. In today's environment, there is no
location that can be considered safe for a woman. The self-worth of a woman may be
mistreated in a variety of settings, including but not limited to roads, buses, trains, movie
theatres, parks, beaches, and even a lady's own home and neighbourhood. It is clear from all
of this that women are subjected to prejudice in their day-to-day lives.
As a result of the whole situation, we are faced with the issue of how the particular rights that
are guaranteed by the constitution of India may assist women in achieving their full position
and in having the opportunity to exercise their human rights.

2. In the working paper that Unicef published in the year 2000 with the heading
"DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS,"

We examined the worldwide cost of domestic violence and its implications for women, and
we brought attention to the fact that women experience a variety of types of discrimination
throughout their lives. As a worldwide pandemic, violence against women is characterized by
the fact that victims are subjected to physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and in certain
cases, they are even subjected to torture and even death. It is because of this violation that
women are denied the right to enjoy essential freedoms, as well as equality, security, dignity,
and self-worth. Across the whole world, every nation is experiencing some type of violence,
although it may take a different shape. Every culture, social class, educational level, financial
level, ethnicity, and age group is affected by violence. Nevertheless, the likelihood of
susceptibility varies from group to group. Women who are members of minority groups,
women who are members of indigenous and migrant communities, women who are refugees,
and women who live in crisis zones are more susceptible than other women. It is alarming to
learn that between twenty and fifty percent of women who have experienced violence are
victims of intimate partner violence or family violence. This is the case regardless of the kind
of abuse that has been committed against them. Nevertheless, the severity of domestic
violence is not readily apparent since the majority of incidents are not reported and are not
documented. This is because the majority of women are unwilling to disclose instances of
violence that they have experienced. When it comes to reacting to incidents of this kind, the
first reason is the insensitivity of healthcare experts and police professionals. The second
reason is the fear and ignorance that are linked with the judicial systems.
A variety of elements Maintain the existence of domestic violence among the various
societies, which may be classified into four distinct categories: cultural, economic, legal, and
political. These variables are interwoven and institutionalized, and they all contribute to the
perpetuation of domestic violence. In addition to this, One of the most significant
contributors to the perpetuation of violence against women is the absence of legal protection,
especially in the immediate neighbourhood of the workplace. The most severe repercussions
of domestic violence against women are the denial of basic human rights to women and girls
inside the household. In addition, it may result in health effects, which can range from non-
fatal to deadly outcomes. On the other hand, the deadly results include things like suicide,
murder, maternal death, and even HIV/AIDS. The non-fatal effects include a variety of
ailments.

3. Radhika Coomaraswamy (2000):

An emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the state to take action against
violence in the report titled "Combating domestic violence: obligations of the state" that was
written by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. When it
comes to the issue of violence, the state has two distinct responsibilities to play. In addition to
being unable to perpetrate any abuses of human rights, it is also required to prevent and react
to any and all types of human rights violations. Previously, the functions of states in the
context of violations were seen in a very restricted manner; but, in the current context, the
roles of the state are considered to be quite broad. There is a duty for the government to take
preventative and punitive steps if there is a breach of rights committed by private parties
when it occurs. In 1992, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW) adopted general Recommendation 19, which emphasizes that if the state
fails to act in terms of preventing violations of rights or in investigating and punishing acts of
violence, then the state may also be considered responsible for the same. This
recommendation was adopted by the CEDAW. It is also directed to the nations by the United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women that they formulate a
policy that would eliminate violence against women as soon as possible. These include the
modification or elimination of existing laws, conventions, and practices that discriminate
against women and prevent them from exercising their rights. There is a school of thought
that even contends that domestic violence is a type of torture, and that the penalty needs to be
ensuring that it is in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
as well as the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading
Treatment or penalty. In response to the role that the state plays in combatting violence, a
number of states have enacted laws and regulations that are designed to protect women from
violence and to punish abusers as soon as possible. However, the task that still stands in front
of the law reformer is to make the act of violence against a wife a criminal offense. The
primary conundrum is whether or not to categorize the act of wife violence as a criminal
offense, or whether or not to place more of a focus on counseling and mediation.
In order to effectively address the difficulties via the use of legal action, there is an
immediate need for a joint approach between the governments and the organizations that
make up civil society. Integrated and interdisciplinary approaches are what the approach
ought to be. It is important for professionals from a variety of professions, including but not
limited to attorneys, psychologists, social workers, and medical professionals, to collaborate
in order to obtain a better understanding of instances involving domestic violence. Moreover,
it is essential to take into account the actual circumstances surrounding the abused woman,
including her lack of hope, her dependence, the limited alternatives available to her, and the
resulting need for empowerment that she has when dealing with the problem. Developing her
capacities to make her own decisions about her future should be the overarching objective
that it is important to take into consideration.

4. "Researching Violence against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and

Activists," Mary Ellsberg and Lori Heise published their findings in 2003.
A change in the emphasis of international attention on the issue of violence against women
should be emphasized. If we take into account the situation over twenty years ago and make
an effort to comprehend it, we will find that at that point in time, violence against women was
not seen as a problem that merited the attention or concern of the world community. The
violence that is committed against women has a significant influence on their health, and as a
result, she is forced to make sacrifices in both her physical and emotional well-being, and she
develops a negative sense of self-esteem. It also contributes to the development of long-term
risks, such as depression, physical impairment, and dependence of illegal substances and
alcohol.
Despite the fact that the effect was so significant, cultures all over the world did not show
concern for the problems. As a result of this mindset shared by society, victims of domestic
abuse endured a great deal of suffering in utter quiet. The concerns were pushed to the
forefront of public attention by a number of women's groups on a local, national, and
worldwide scale via a succession of advocacy campaigns. In conclusion, the problem of
violence against women was recognized as a valid concern pertaining to human rights.
As a result of the measures that women are taking today, international organizations are
speaking out against gender-based violence. Policy makers and service providers are now
acknowledging the serious effects that violence has on the health of women. Furthermore, the
emphasis of study is shifting toward the collection of additional information on the
prevalence of abuse as well as the kind of abuse. Women are at a greater risk of experiencing
and bearing the repercussions of violence than males are, despite the fact that both men and
women are capable of becoming victims and perpetrators of aggressive behavior. They have a
high probability of being sexually attacked at any point in their lives, whether it is during
childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. When the life cycle of women is taken into
consideration, it becomes clear that women are susceptible to varying degrees of violence at
several different points in their lives. When she is in the pre-birth stage, she is the victim of a
sex-selective abortion, but when she is in the infancy stage, she is the victim of female
infanticide Neglect (health care, nutrition). By the time she reaches the stage of childhood,
she has already been subjected to child maltreatment, malnutrition, and female genital
mutilation. When a person is a teenager, they are vulnerable to a number of harmful
situations, including forced prostitution, trafficking, forced early marriage, psychological
abuse, and rape. During the reproductive period, woman is at risk of several forms of
violence, including but not limited to: honor killings, dowry killings, violence from intimate
partners, sexual assault by non-partner murder or femicide, sexual harassment, and sex
trafficking. At the current time, despite the fact that there is a rising concern around domestic
violence, there is still a shortage of vocabulary that is widely agreed upon for the purpose of
addressing violence against women. Many of the terms that are used in the overview of
domestic violence have varied meanings depending on the place in which they are explained.
For instance, the phrase "domestic violence" is used to describe the mistreatment of women
by male intimate partners who are either now in a relationship with them or who have
previously been in a relationship with them. In Latin America, on the other hand, the term
"domestic violence" refers to any kind of violence that occurs inside the confines of the
house, including abuse against children and violence against the elderly. Researchers who are
working on gender-based violence face a number of problems and dangers due to the absence
of a universally agreed-upon phrase for addressing the issue of violence against women. In
order to make a difference in the industry, the most significant hurdles that they face are
learning from their previous failures, determining what constitutes "best practices," and
discovering what it is that makes them successful. This will allow them to redirect their
resources and efforts in a strategic manner.

5. In her article titled "An Analysis of Lacking Security and Increasing Rape Crime in
India," Satvinder Kaur (2014)
She conducted an analysis of the rape incidents and various factors related to rape in India
from the years 2001 to 2010. She also highlighted the fact that young women are more likely
to be victims of rape and discussed the strategies that can be used to overcome such issues.
Despite the fact that women make up the vast majority of the world's population, her status in
society is pitiful, which is a reflection of the poor value that society places on the lives of
women. There are certain ladies in today's society who are not safe. There is a wide variety of
sexual offenses that are taking place in the society, the most heinous and serious of which is
rape, which is also the most serious form of human rights violation and a significant societal
issue in many cultures throughout the globe. The occurrence of rape not only results in bodily
harm to the victims, but it also leaves an indelible mark on the most prized possessions that
women own, which are their dignity, honor, reputation, and, last but not least, their virginity.
Regarding sexual offense, the status of Indian women is quite frightening. This is a very
concerning situation. The fact that gender discrimination is still prevalent in the culture of
Indian society has made them victims of the situations that have arisen as a result of this
legacy. In India, sexual offenses committed against women and girls are mostly manifested in
the form of rape, molestation, sexual harassment, eve teasing, and trafficking of girls for the
purpose of sexual exploitation. Of these, rape is the most offensive kind of sexual offense,
since it is the one that causes women to feel frightened and sick. It was claimed that there
were 369 victims of incest rape in India in the year 2001, but by the year 2012, that number
had significantly increased to 396. In spite of the fact that the number of incidents of incest in
the nation is fairly large, very few cases of incest have been reported to the courts. This is
because of the societal shame that is associated with incest, and even in cases that have been
recorded, the courts have not maintained a progressive perspective on the issue.
Additionally, the kid is not secure from these kinds of crimes. Twenty-nine point nine percent
of the children who were polled in India had experienced serious kinds of sexual abuse,
according to a research that was conducted in 2007 by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development. The study was made up of 12,447 children from thirteen different states.
According to the findings, the number of cases of rape perpetrated against minors has
dramatically increased, going from 2113 in the year 2001 to 8541 in the year 2012. As far as
the age aspect is concerned, the most difficult and severe category of rape victims is
comprised of those who are between the ages of 19 and 30 years old. India continues to see a
rise in the number of rape cases, despite the fact that there are a number of particular laws in
place to protect women. The amount of rapes that are not reported is exceptionally high,
which means that the true number of rapes is not even close to being documented.
It is now necessary for our policymakers, family system, community, and women themselves
to give particular attention in order to address these challenges. If women really want to
perceive themselves as truly independent, stronger, and safe, they must do so. It is necessary
for the victims of rape to have access to a sophisticated environment, therapy that does not
discriminate, and strong social support in the family, community, workplaces, and
educational institutions. It is imperative that the development of infrastructure in rural
regions, including appropriate sewage and toilet facilities, water supply, and other amenities,
be given the highest priority. In the current situation, the efforts and commitment of males are
an essential component that must be present in order to abolish acts of violence done against
women in the community. Individually or collectively, every man is obligated to take a
position against the violence perpetrated by males and to urge other men to put a stop to this
heinous brutality against women.

6. In their paper, Mubika Augustine Kudakwashe and Bukaliya Richard (2015)

examined forty instances of armed conflicts worldwide to determine the impact of these
wars on women.
There have been a lot of wars waged all over the globe, and the majority of the people who
have been killed or injured in these kinds of violent confrontations have been women. The
occurrence of armed conflicts all over the globe is well known, but the results of these wars
have not been distributed enough to bring attention to the problems that have resulted in
women and girls suffering in some form or another. The efforts to control economic
resources like oil, metals, diamonds, narcotics, or disputed territorial borders are often
connected to the causes of armed conflict. These may include contested territorial boundaries.
There has been a noticeable increase in the degree of inequality in the allocation of power and
resources with regard to the worldwide level. This discrepancy, when combined with
structural inequities between and within nation-states, has resulted in an increase in the
number of wars that occur inside regions, as well as an escalation of violent conflicts that
occur on a global scale. On the other hand, women were the ones who were most negatively
affected by the effects of war on every level. One of the most prevalent outcomes of armed
wars was the traumatization and stigmatization of women who had been raped. Other
repercussions included the relocation of women and the phenomenon of women being forced
into widowhood. According to the findings of a survey, about forty-three out of every one
hundred women in the areas of internal arm conflict had been victims of various sorts of
violence. Displacement, widowhood, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse, as well as
socioeconomic ramifications, are all consequences of international wars and conflicts.
The many types of violence that were used include rape, mass rape, sexual slavery, forced
prostitution, forced sterilization, and the termination of pregnancies against the will of the
victim. By committing acts of rape against women, the attacker is able to shame the
vanquished males in both a symbolic and physical sense. Amnesty International (2004)
reports that in some situations, the parties involved in the conflict resort to sexual assault as a
form of punishment and as a general warning to the female population that is a part of the
community that is under control. That women, in general, do not go out to fight and, for the
most part, stay unarmed and defenseless during times of war, when conventional forms of
moral, societal, and institutional safeguards have crumbled and weaponry have multiplied, is
one of the factors that contributes to women being especially vulnerable during times of
conflict. Young girls and women are often placed in danger when they are tasked with
gathering firewood or water. These threats may include being kidnapped, being subjected to
sexual assault, and being exposed to landmines. In addition, the vulnerability of women and
girls is influenced by the views of society. As an example, families have often made the
erroneous assumption that an old lady or a woman with children would be protected from
danger, and as a result, they have assigned them the responsibility of protecting their property
while the rest of the family has fled. Even if women are not personally injured during armed
conflicts, the destruction that their families experience and the prospect of violence may add
to the isolation that women experience. Widowhood, migration to urban areas, and staying
inside the house in order to prevent being murdered are all factors that contribute to the
disintegration of social structures and the isolation of women. On top of that, widows women
do not have any rights to claim ownership of land following the death of their husbands.
According to estimates provided by the International Organization for Migration (lOM), the
number of women and children who were trafficked over international boundaries in the year
2001 ranged between 700,000 and 2 million. There is a growing body of research suggesting
that armed conflict is related with a significant portion of this activity.

7. In the article titled "THE DYNAMICS OF RAPE IN MODERN INDIAN

SOCIETY," which was published in 2013, V. K. Madan and R. K. Sinha
Addressed the ways in which criminal activity has increased over the last several years and
become an issue on a national scale. A discussion of the dynamics of rape in India is
presented in this work. Since ancient times, people from many civilizations have been
committing acts of rape. The majority of the time, it has been disregarded and
misrepresented. In its various facets, rape is a multifaceted and complicated problem. In
addition to being one of the most contentious subjects, it poses a challenge to the way that
people think in the modern day. There is a high probability that rape is the crime that is the
least reported throughout the society. Even though there is strong law to penalize those who
commit the crime of rape, practice and process in the investigation, high-profile coverage in
the media, and help accessible to victims, the number of rapes that occur has been steadily
growing. On the other hand, only a tiny percentage of those responsible for the crime are
brought to justice, and victims are often held responsible for the offense. Managing rape is a
far more difficult task than managing the majority of other types of crimes.
There are women who hold positions of leadership in the majority of sectors in contemporary
India. Even in ancient India, women held a position that was comparable to or even superior
to that of males. Shakti is the name given to the heavenly embodiment of feminine force, and
it persists to this day. There are several temples in India that are devoted to Shakti, such as
the Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir, which receives more than 10 million visitors on a yearly
basis. The issue of rape, on the other hand, is a national concern. Rape may be committed for
a variety of reasons, including sexual pleasure, social status, power, sadism, wrath, and
evolutionary drive. Different people have different ways of thinking about and interpreting
rape. On the other hand, the radical perspective takes into account the prominent role that
male plays in the act of rape, whereas the liberal perspective considers rape to be an assault
just like any other attack. The repercussions of rape may be detrimental to the victims. An
individual who is a victim may experience extreme trauma, suffer from a variety of stress
conditions, and be subjected to societal stigma. In order to discuss the offense of rape The
nation is governed by the Indian Penal Code, often known as the IPC. In it, a comprehensive
catalog of all instances of criminal behavior and punishment is described. 1860 saw the
preparation of the first draft of the Indian Penal Code, which had 511 parts and went into
effect in 1862. Since then, the Indian Penal Code has undergone a number of revisions in
response to the severity of the situation. In the aftermath of the gang rape case that occurred
in Delhi in December 2012, the government of India established a judicial committee that
was led by Justice J.S. Verma. The committee's mission was to propose modifications to
existing criminal laws and punishments in order to deal more effectively with cases of sexual
assault. The committee's recommendations were taken into consideration when the Criminal
Law (Amendment) Act 2013 was enacted. The term "rape" has been replaced by "sexual
assault," which include assaults that do not involve penetration. Also included in this
category is penetration to any degree other than penile penetration, which is considered an
offense. A number of new offenses, including acid attacks, sexual harassment, voyeurism,
and stalking, together with their associated sanctions, have been included.
It should be emphasized that laws are essential, but they are not adequate, in order to
maintain control over rape situations. Rather of focusing just on law enforcement and law
enforcement agencies, it would be preferable to approach the problem of rape with a new
viewpoint from those of other disciplines. The combination of facts, analysis, and ideas from
other fields, such as sociology, culture, psychology, and religion, as well as the
encouragement of the merging of instruments from different fields, should result in an
approach that is both insightful and sound in order to discover a solution to the intractable
societal issue.

8. In the report titled "Access to Justice for Women India's response to sexual violence
in conflict and social upheaval," which was published in 2015 by the Berkeley Haas
School of Business and the Berkeley Haas School of Law, the authors analyze the
efforts of women who have been victims of sexual violence and their allies to access
justice in these contexts.
Additionally, they identify emblematic ways in which the Indian legal system has either
succeeded or failed to provide effective redress. A continuum of violence is experienced
by women in India, beginning in the womb and continuing till the deathbed. Information
provided by the Indian government indicates that around one woman is sexually assaulted
in the nation every twenty minutes. During times of armed conflict and widespread
violence, women and girls are more susceptible to becoming victims of sexual violence.
As a matter of fact, gender-based criminal activity is a prevalent aspect of the armed
conflict and mass violence that has plagued India ever since the country gained its
freedom.
These four case studies were taken into consideration for this research. Two of the case
studies are derived from conflict situations that occurred in the states of Punjab and
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Additionally, two of the case studies are derived from
pivotal incidents of mass violence that occurred in the states of Gujarat in 2002 and
Odisha in 2008. In these regions, sexual violence takes place as a result of the interaction
of a number of different factors, including those pertaining to gender, caste, social class,
political authority, land, and religion. In spite of the complexity that are provided by these
variances, the study demonstrates that there are parallels across the instances in the ways
that the Indian judicial system failed to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and punish
perpetrators of sexual assault or to give meaningful reparation to female victims. There
are nine aspects of the Indian legal system that have been explored in order to get an
understanding of India's reaction to acts of sexual assault. These aspects are
criminalization, prevention, contextual analysis, reporting, registration of complaints and
arrests, collecting of evidence, timeliness, legal immunity, and redress. As a result of the
limited definition of rape, which is defined as penile-vaginal penetration that is
characterized by the absence of permission, many of the acts of sexual violence that were
listed in the study, such as non-vaginal penetration or penetration with an object or finger,
did not constitute a crime. To the extent that prevention is concerned
Public authorities and law enforcement did not take any action to defend minority groups
in Gujarat and Odisha, despite the fact that they were warned of coming assaults. Instead,
governmental actors either took part in the violent crimes or condoned them via their
actions. It is possible for any method of preventive or reparation to be rendered
ineffective if the context, which includes systemic trends around a particular violation of
human rights, is not properly analyzed. The failure to pay attention to the surrounding
circumstances is a typical flaw that is found in the criminal investigations and
prosecutions that are documented in this report. At each and every level of the inquiry,
the case records indicate that the Indian authorities ignored the economical, political,
cultural, and religious environment in which the perpetrators of the violent crimes
committed the acts of violence. The number of incidents of sexualized violence that are
recorded in India is embarrassingly low. In point of fact, sexual violence is one of the
crimes that is under-reported the most in India. This is mostly due to the insensitivity of
those who are responsible for reporting it, as well as the involvement or collaboration of
authorities in cases of sexual assault. The investigating authorities either did not submit
First Information Reports (FIRs) or documented the information that was supplied by
 witnesses and victims in an insufficient or wrong manner. There were significant
repercussions for the criminal investigations and prosecutions that resulted from the
failure to file First Information Reports (FIRs) or to record information of sexual assault
at a sufficient level. It seems from the record that the authorities who were investigating
the cases that are covered in this report did not sufficiently preserve the crime scene,
gather physical evidence, or interview witnesses. The authorities did not collect forensic
evidence, they performed examinations in an untimely way, or they ignored the findings
of the examinations. The investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of those responsible
for the acts of sexual assault that were described in this Report were all impacted by
significant delays that were not warranted. When it comes to the prevention of elements
that impede the full fulfillment of women's rights, it is important to take into
consideration and solve the prevalent shortcomings that are present in the national legal
system.

9. In her work titled "Acid Attack in the Backdrop of India and Criminal Amendment
Act, 2013," Nargis Yeasmeen (2015) analyzed the factors that led to the commission
of this horrible crime as well as the ramifications that had resulted from it.
Additionally, she attempted to compare the rules that govern acid attacks in several
nations that are located in the background of India.
Violence against women is a consequence of historically uneven power relations between
men and women. These power interactions have led to males dominating women and
discriminating against them, as well as preventing women from advancing to their full
potential. The act of acid assault, which is more properly called as vitriol age, is a kind of
interpersonal terrorism that includes the intentional throwing of sulfuric, nitric, or
hydrochloric acid over another individual with the primary aim of disfiguring them4. These
acids are used mostly due to the fact that they are easily accessible and inexpensive. At this
time, there has been an increase in the occurrence of this horrific, cruel, and sadistic crime,
and innocent girls and women are becoming victims of acid attacks. Acid attacks are a kind
of violence that may be found in a number of nations; however, India, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, and Pakistan are the most common culprits. Acid attacks have been claimed to
have been conducted against women, especially young women and girls, for a variety of
reasons, including but not limited to rejecting the proposals of their suitors, rejecting
marriage proposals or offers, refusing or disputing dowry, domestic fighting, property
disputes, and other similar reasons. The reason for this is that the person who attacked him is
unable to tolerate his rejection, loss of honor and shame, insecurity, jealousy, patriarchy,
aggression, and frustration. His so-called male ego gets in the way of all of this, and as a
result, he exacts his revenge by destroying the body, particularly the face of the women who
had the audacity to refuse him. It causes the victim to be burnt, blinded, and maimed; it melts
human flesh and even bones; it causes extreme agony and horror; and it leaves scars that
remain for the rest of their life.The provisions of the Indian Penal Code were not qualified to
deal with acid attack survivors, as shown by the many examples that were discovered in the
nation. These cases indicate the prejudice that was done against the survivors of acid attacks.
In the case of Devanand vs. the State22, a man flung acid on his estranged wife because she
refused to reside with him. Her refusal was the reason for the man's actions. Not only did the
wife suffer a lifelong deformation of her face, but she also lost her ability to see through her
corneas. Although the court found the accused to be guilty, the penalty that was handed down
was a minimum sentence of seven years in accordance with Section 307 of the Indian Penal
Code. A guy who was 32 years old started chasing Laxmi Agarwal when she was just 16
years old. Laxmi Agarwal was the daughter of a domestic cook. He raced up on a motorbike
with an accomplice one day and sprayed acid over her face, chest, and hands after she had
repeatedly turned down his marriage proposal. He did this after she had previously rejected
his proposal. Her whole childhood was ruined, she lost all of her friends, and she eventually
stopped going to school. People ridiculed her and looked at her, blaming her by implying that
she could have done something to provoke the man's anger. They also showed her contempt.
For a period of eight years, she concealed her presence. However, she was able to find the
bravery she needed when India became enraged by a gang rape that occurred on a bus the
previous year. Almost immediately, she filed a public interest litigation (PIL) and requested
that the sale of dangerous liquids be prohibited. A legislation was established by the
government in response to a significant amount of pressure, which resulted in the creation of
criminal charges specifically for stalking, voyeurism, acid assaults, and the forceful public
disrobing of women. This is an act that is occasionally carried out in rural regions with the
intention of humiliating women. A person who is found guilty of an acid assault risks a
punishment that ranges from a minimum of ten (10) years to a maximum of life in prison, as
stipulated by the new legislation. The unfortunate reality is that even the Indian Penal Code
was not capable of adequately dealing with the acid assault. Even a definition of acid attack
was not included in the requirements.7. As a result of the growing number of incidents
involving acid attacks, the government of India made the decision to revise the existing
regulations and introduce some new ones. Even the highest court in India has sharply
chastised the government for its failure to devise a strategy to limit the number of acid attacks
that are committed against women. As a result, this resulted in the drafting of the Criminal
Amendment Act, which was enacted on the 3rd of August 2013 and was published in the
gazette on the 2nd of April, 2013. This act has a number of particular sections pertaining to
acid attacks. A new section 326A8 and a new section 326B9 are going to be introduced to the
Indian Penal Code, according to a proposal made by the Law Commission, which is led by
Justice A.R. Lakshmanan. The Indian Evidence Act of 1872 has also been amended to
include the addition of Section 114B10.

10. In the study titled "Violence against Women," which was published in 2010, the
European Commission addressed the nature of domestic abuse against women as
well as the repercussions of such violence.
'Violence against women' is defined by the European Union as "any act of gender-based
violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or
suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life." This definition applies to any instance
of violence against women that takes place in either public or private settings. In spite of the
fact that there has been unquestionably some progress achieved in the European Union (EU)
in terms of increasing public awareness and providing women who are victims of abuse with
more resources to turn to, women in every single Member State continue to be victims of
violence at the hands of abusive partners. When it comes to domestic abuse, the Council of
Europe reports that one in every four European women will encounter it at some time in her
life. Additionally, between six and ten percent of women are victims of domestic violence
each year. The five possible categories of violence that are being considered include sexual
and physical violence, which are the most severe forms of violence throughout the EU.
Eighty-five percent of respondents regard these forms of violence to be extremely serious17.
71% of people believe that psychological violence is a very severe issue, whereas 69% of
people believe that limited freedom is on the same level, and 64% believe that threats of
violence are on the same level. Poverty or social isolation (reported by 77% of respondents)
and unemployment (indicated by 75% of respondents) are the third and fourth most often
mentioned reasons of domestic violence against women within the European Union.
According to the attitudes of the people in the EU, an overwhelming majority of respondents
(84%) believe that violence against women is wrong and should always be punished by law.
This is the most common opinion among EU citizens. There is a sizeable minority that holds
the belief that this kind of violence is wrong but should not always be prosecuted by law. On
the other hand, there is a very tiny fringe that believes that domestic violence is permissible
in some situations (2%), or in all circumstances (1%). This provides an indication of the
degree of opinion and mentality that existed among individuals all around the EU.
A minority of EU people indicate that they are unaware of the legal position, despite the fact
that the majority of EU citizens think that rules have been put in place to prevent domestic
violence. However, in seven of the Member States, the majority of individuals believe that
there are no laws involving prevention in their country, or they are ignorant of the legislation
that exist in their country. According to the findings of this analysis, the most positive finding
is that, in general, there has been clear progress achieved among the EU15 nations since the
time of the last survey, which was conducted a little more than a decade ago. The problem
has been more well known, people's tolerance for domestic violence has decreased, and there
has been an increase in support for taking severe action against those who commit the crime.
At the same time, the poll reveals that an increasing number of individuals are becoming
aware of domestic abuse via the media, which may be an indication that this topic is
becoming less of a taboo. The discussion that was initiated by the European Commission has,
without a shadow of a doubt, had an effect on the level of awareness that individuals have
about domestic abuse. It is also possible to deduce, based on the findings of the poll, that
measures such as information campaigns have had a role in the increasing awareness of the
problem. However, this does not hide the reality that the issue is still widespread in European
culture. A significant number of individuals have confirmed that they directly know women
who have been victims of violence, and that they also know individuals who are perpetrators
of such violence.

11. In his thesis titled "Sexual Violence in India," Arun Ignatius (2013) explored the
complexities of rape as a kind of gender-based sexual violence, as well as the context
in which women in India find themselves.
It is the crime that is expanding at the quickest rate in the nation, despite the fact that rape is
common in many places of the globe. Rape, the most prevalent type of violence against
women, has been a part of human civilization for a very long time. It is a severe violation of a
woman's physical integrity and may be considered a kind of torture. As a result of the fact
that it covers a wide range of elements, including social and political happenings, laws and
conventions, and so on, the topic of rape encompasses more than just the actual act of
physical assault. However, the attitudes, concepts, and laws around rape have evolved across
time and location, despite the fact that the physical reality of rape has remained the same.
The National Crime Records Bureau in India (NCRB) reports that the number of rape cases
that have been filed in India has seen a staggering growth of 873.3 percent between the years
1971 and 2011. Despite this, there are specialists who assert that the true number of rapes that
have occurred is not even close to being documented since the number of incidents that have
not been reported is exceptionally large. The instances that were used in this investigation
include the Thangjam Manorama Devi Case from 2004, the Soni Sori Case from 2011, and
the Jyoti Singh Case from 2012. In every one of the three incidents, there are more than two
suspects involved in the sexual assault that was reported. It is also known as gang rape, which
refers to the act of committing a rape by a group of young guys. As a result of the fear of
many repercussions, victims of gang rape are sometimes subjected to pressure to withdraw
charges or are unwilling to disclose the incident. Despite the fact that the victims in all three
incidents were of the same gender, class, and caste, and that they were subjected to identical
brutal treatment, the police only reacted to one of the cases. The fact that gender, social class,
and caste all overlap with one another demonstrates that the reaction of the police to rape
cases in India is not consistent. On one hand, the police will respond to cases when the
perpetrators are from the lower sections of the society with lower class/caste but on the other
hand the police fails to respond when the perpetrators are from the authority and the position
of power structure in society are higher than those of the victim. As a result of the most
recent social movement in India, which was tied to rape, the government was put under
pressure to enact a new anti-rape legislation in the nation. There were sections in the new
anti-rape legislation that included the death sentence for some sexually violent offenses.
These clauses were not well received by human rights groups like Amnesty International.
Aside from the fact that it did not meet the level of international standards, the primary issue
with the new legislative reform was that it ignored certain recommendations. Furthermore,
the state authorities did not come up with a solution to the primary problems regarding the
accountability of the police and did not remove the legal immunity that the security forces
were enjoying. Because of this, the police system has the possibility to behave in a manner
that is inconsistent with rape cases based on the social identities of the individuals involved
(gender, class, caste among others). It might be concluded that the high rate of rape in India is
evidence that the Indian government is not doing a good job of promoting or fulfilling human
rights, particularly the rights of women. One of the reasons for the varied reaction of the
police to rape claims is the power structure that exists within the patriarchal culture of India.
In a culture that is governed by power and is characterized by patriarchy, the act of rape may
be seen as a manifestation of the rigorous control that is exercised over the sexuality of
women. When the perpetrators were the authorities hired by the state to protect the residents,
the police responded differently than when the offenders were from lower levels of society
and gendered as women. This was due to the patriarchal attitude that led the police to behave
differently.

12. The issue of sexual violence against women in contemporary India was the subject of
Sandra Neuman's doctoral dissertation, which was published in 2013. some of the
underlying issues that have contributed to the rise in the number of reports of sexual
assault in India were emphasized.
On the sixteenth of December in the year 2012, a young lady was killed as a result of a
vicious gang rape that took place in New Delhi, India. The press has been reporting, after the
occurrence of that tragedy, that there has been an increase in the amount of violence against
women in India, particularly sexual violence. According to the reports of several journalists,
there has been a rise in the number of rapes that have occurred in India during the last few
years. Furthermore, India is a nation that has been lauded throughout the course of the last
twenty years for its rapid economic growth and its progress towards "modernizing" its
society. This progress has been accompanied by an increase in human development indices,
and India is now on the path to becoming a democratic and economic powerhouse. The sum
of these factors, when taken together, paints an image of India that is contradictory. Women
in India are victims of sexual abuse, despite the fact that India is the biggest democracy in the
world and is experiencing significant economic and social growth and transformation.
Throughout the course of the past several decades, many studies have been carried out to
investigate the elements that contribute to sexual assault against women in India. Some of
these underlying variables include a society that condones violence, drinking, having
experienced maltreatment as a youngster, falling into poverty, and experiencing fast changes
in the socioeconomic environment. According to the data, all of the causes combine with one
another many times; hence, no one reason can adequately explain the rise in the number of
sexual assault reports in India. There has been a shift in the role of women in Indian culture,
and it has been observed that it is now more typical for women to participate in jobs outside
the house and to get an education. The ladies were further characterized as having gained
independence and empowerment as a result of this particular event. An imbalance between
the sexes is created when women are breaking through and taking on a much greater role in
society. This causes tensions to develop and produces an imbalance between us. The tension
may then manifest itself in the form of violence against women, which is an effort by males
to retain the existing gender power structures throughout transitional periods. The findings
indicate that a number of the variables that are contributing to the rise in the number of
complaints of sexual assault against women in India, such as patriarchy, education and career
opportunities for women, and gendered power disparities, are experiencing a complicated
interaction with one another. In addition, it was seen as a conflict between "traditional"
standards and values and "modernity," which resulted in these elements contributing to
violent behavior. As a result of the findings of the research, it was discovered that
the'modernization' process may be connected to the increasing reporting of sexual assault in
both a good and a negative manner. It seemed to be a complicated issue with a number of
aspects that were interconnected. It was stated that the rising levels of violence against
women in India may merely represent an increase in the number of incidents that were
reported, rather than an increase in the total number of cases, despite the fact that it was
shown via data and surveys that the violence against women was growing. It is possible that
the increase in reports is the result of a number of things, including changes in the willingness
of victims to report (which may be connected to increased trust in the police and the legal
system), or it may be the result of changes in the laws. However, it is also possible for it to
conform to'modernizing' markers such as increasing knowledge of legal rights, enhanced
human rights, and more educated individuals.

13. In the paper titled "Gender-Based Violence in India - A Never-ending

Phenomenon," written by B. R. Sharma and Manisha Gupta in 2004, the authors
highlighted some of the rituals that have been prominent in India for years in order
to shed attention on the issue of gender-based violence.
In practically all of the developing nations, violence against women is a situation that
occurs rather often. There are significant differences across the civilizations, despite the
fact that the majority of the conventions are the same. These differences are represented
in the culture of each of the societies in a distinctive way. Within our culture, which is
controlled by men, it is a painful truth that women in India have been subjected to
mistreatment for a very long time. She is treated like a commodity on account of the fact
that she is bereft of her autonomous identity. She is not only deprived of her dignity and
pride as a result of the men who are around her, but she also runs the risk of being a
victim of brutality at the hands of those who are attempting to save her inside the confines
of her own home. Several categories may be used to classify the atrocities that have been
perpetrated against women: Assault, battering, significant injuries, burns, and other forms
of brutality are all examples of physical violence. The term "sexual violence" refers to the
act of stripping a woman of her dignity, which may be carried out not only via indecent
conduct but also through the severe form of rape. It is a practice in African countries to
perform female genital mutilation (FGM), which involves the removal of a woman's or
girl child's clitoris as well as other portions of their body. The use of aggressive and filthy
words against a woman or her close friends and family members is an example of verbal
aggression, which is defined as indecency by definition. One definition of social violence
is the act of degrading, criticizing, or humiliating a woman or her family members,
friends, or relatives who are related to her. In addition to denying her custody of her
children, this is emotional abuse, which results in the internal deprivation of love and
compassion, concern, sympathy, and care. Not only does the act of depriving a woman of
financial resources and the essentials of daily living constitute financial abuse, but it also
encompasses the act of taking away assets that a woman owns or earns throughout the
course of her life. When people are denied the right to participate in decision-making and
debate about important matters, this is an example of intellectual violence. Other types of
violence, such as the denial of reproductive rights, access to health facilities, and
education, are also examples of some types of violence. Over the course of the crimes
committed against women in India, the incidence of torture climbed by as much as 278%,
while the incidence of rape increased by 69%, and then the incidence of molestation
increased by 24%. Over the course of the years 1995 to 1999, there was a steady increase
of 86% in the incidence of sexual harassment. Despite the fact that there has been a
significant increase in the number of rape cases, which went from 9150 in 1989 to 15468
in 1999, the most unsettling aspect of this result is that 27 percent of the victims were
children. In India, the problem of violence against women within the context of the family
is a complicated and deeply ingrained phenomena. First, the young brides were either
murdered or forced to commit suicide (18.4%) when their parents refused to concede to
continuing demands of dowry. Secondly, the murders were committed on the pretext of
'complex family relations' or extramarital relations (52.6%). Both of these patterns are
representative of the dowry-related killings that have occurred. The criminal situation has
become worse over the years, according to a critical examination; yet, the enormous
number of instances that have been reported seems to indicate that the reluctance to
disclose these crimes is maybe beginning to break down. However, studies suggest that
the numbers may not convey the whole depth of the issue; rather, they make it more
 difficult to understand. In spite of the legal provision, the number of crimes committed
against women has not decreased.
Because of this, legislation cannot tackle deeply embedded societal problems on its own;
rather, one must attack these issues in other ways as well. Because of this, what is
required is not only a robust legal support network, but also opportunities for economic
independence, essential education and awareness, alternative accommodations, and a shift
in the mentality and attitude of society, the judiciary, the legislature, the executive branch,
men, and most importantly, the woman herself. The urgent necessity of the hour is to
reorganize society in terms of power and the interaction between roles, while
simultaneously placing an emphasis on egalitarian principles.

14. An examination of the role that men play in the prevention of sexual assault is
presented in the essay "Engaging men in sexual assault prevention" written by
Mary Stathopoulos (2013).
The prevention of sexual assault has historically been a domain that women have inhabited,
both in the capacity as educators and as the audience for messages that advise individuals on
how to protect themselves from the risk of sexual violence. In recent years, there has been a
movement in the principles that influence the prevention of sexual assault. These concepts
increasingly emphasize the significance of males in the roles of facilitators and educators, as
well as participants in programs that aim to prevent sexual assault. In the realm of sexual
assault prevention, there have been movements from risk-avoidance messaging directed at
women to a more inclusive paradigm that believes both women and men have an essential
role to play in the prevention of all types of violence against women, including sexual assault
as well as domestic and familial violence. Men who may have feelings of helplessness,
defensiveness, or a lack of legitimacy in a subject that has historically been a feminist arena
may find the idea of resistance to preventative messaging to be particularly relevant. As a
result of the necessity to utilize language that is based on male gender stereotypes (for
example, males as competitive, aggressive, and domineering), it is vital to strike a balance
between the requirement to employ language that is based on these stereotypes and the
purpose of fighting those same gender stereotypes. There are a number of factors that play a
significant role in the perpetration of sexual assault, including a strong belief in gender
stereotypes and a poor conviction in gender equality. Participation of males, both as
facilitators and as participants in the preventive process, is the first step in the process of
preventing sexual assault. When it comes to the prevention of sexual assault, it is essential
that there be a consensus among men that they have a constructive role to play. Only then can
men be encouraged to participate in this endeavor. When considering how to include men in
preventive efforts, it is necessary to take into account the many ways in which certain men
may be resistant to prevention messages. This resistance may be caused by discomfort, the
rejection of ideas, or other factors. When masculine gender stereotypes are utilized as a
strategy for engaging men in prevention, there is a conflict that arises. This tension arises
because there is research that shows that these same stereotypes might contribute as
underlying elements in the perpetration of sexual assault and violence against women. When
it comes to sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence, primary prevention
focuses on preventing violence before it ever happens. The phrase "some primary prevention
strategies focus on changing behavior and/or building the knowledge and skills of
individuals" was taken from the Victoria Health website in 2007 on page 9. In the beginning,
primary prevention consisted of the raising of awareness via activities such as an advertising
campaign on television2 and billboards, or information sessions at work that were arranged
by departments of human resources. On the other hand, it is now more than that.
The current primary preventative strategy focuses on altering both attitudes and
actions. Secondary prevention is a term that describes early intervention measures that are
aimed at groups or people that may suggest a risk of perpetration or who have committed
violence or controlling behavior (potentially) for the first time. Similar to primary prevention,
secondary prevention may focus on populations who have been recognized as being at risk of
becoming victims of violence or sexual assault, or of committing such acts themselves.
Intervening after an act of violence has already taken place is an example of tertiary
prevention. This may involve the imposition of legal punishments on those responsible for
the crime, as well as therapeutic treatments for both the victim/survivor and the offender.
Behavioral modification programs for males are an example of a tertiary preventive strategy
that is investigated in this research. The goal of programs designed to modify men's behavior
is to educate men about the inappropriateness of sexual and physical violence, as well as to
assist men in changing their thoughts and conduct in order to have relationships with women
that are more equal and respectful. Men may choose to participate in behavior modification
programs on their own will, or they may be ordered to do so by a court order.

15. In its paper titled "Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls in Sexual and
Reproductive Health Services: A Review of Knowledge," the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) published in 2014 .
This paper evaluates the research on the incorporation of actions to address gender-based
violence (GBV), more especially violence against women and girls, within sexual and
reproductive health (SRH) services. ASSETS discusses the report and reviews the literature.
The purpose of this document is to provide direction to programmers, designers, and
managers working in the health industry. There is a similar fundamental cause that underlies
both gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health concerns, and that foundation
is gender inequity. As a result of the fact that gender norms, which are the socially
constructed ideas and rules about appropriate male and female behavior and characteristics,
include culturally ingrained beliefs and social rules related to male and female sexuality,
gender mainstreaming necessitates paying attention to culture and employing approaches that
are culturally sensitive. The institutions of the majority of cultures are discriminatory against
women and girls, which results in uneven opportunities and power inequalities between men
and women. Intimate partner violence (IPV), beatings during pregnancy, sexual harassment,
rape as a strategy of war, and honor murders are all examples of kinds of gender-based
violence (GBV) that may be traced back to these disparities, which, when paired with
stringent rules limiting sexuality, are the core cause of many forms of GBV. There is a strong
reduction in women's autonomy, their ability to exercise reproductive rights, their ability to
protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and HIV, and their ability to leave abusive
situations. The unequal status of women and girls in their families and communities has its
roots in political, economic, and social discrimination, and it is reinforced by these forms of
discrimination. This gendered system of discrimination and cultural norms in many nations
leads to widespread acceptability of violence against women, including among women
themselves. Additionally, this acceptance is ubiquitous. In the majority of civilizations, there
is a widespread prevalence of discriminatory views around sexuality and gender.
Therefore, the work of integrating attention to gender-based violence (GBV) in sexual and
reproductive health care is an endeavor that will take a long time and will need modifications
to policies, plans, procedures, and infrastructure, in addition to training and monitoring.
When it comes to addressing the underlying social and cultural predispositions of health-care
staff, one-off training initiatives are not adequate enough. To achieve gender mainstreaming,
it is necessary to make an investment in cultural reform among all of the individuals who are
employed in the health system. When it comes to women's and girls' sensitivity to GBV and
SRH risks, health practitioners need to employ techniques that are culturally sensitive. They
must be aware that structural and cultural factors contribute to this vulnerability, and that
many of these variables are tied to gender inequities. In the absence of this comprehension,
they are prone to falling into the prevalent cultural beliefs of gender-based violence (GBV)
that place blame on the victim. On the other hand, having an awareness of these elements
enables clinicians to deliver treatment that is compassionate, thorough, and successful.
Therefore, acquiring an awareness of how gender problems show themselves in a setting is a
requirement for mainstreaming gender in gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive
health (SRH and GBV) programming. Gender-transformative programming is a strategy that
tries to transform gender roles and create more gender-equitable interactions between men
and women. Therefore, it is necessary for communities to implement this strategy in order to
reduce gender-based violence (GBV). These types of programmers are interested in critically
reflecting on, questioning, or altering institutional behaviors and larger societal norms that
contribute to and sustain gender inequity and vulnerability for both men and women.
Researchers in the social sciences may provide assistance to those who work in health
promotion by assisting them in identifying particular cultural ideas that are discriminatory
and testing messages to get them transformed. In the end, the eradication of some forms of
discrimination against women is necessary in order to reduce the dangers of sexually
transmitted diseases and eliminate gender-based violence. In light of this, "gender
mainstreaming" is a crucial component of all efforts to prevent both gender-based violence
and sexual and reproductive health issues, as well as to provide assistance to women and girls
who are impacted by gender-based violence, HIV, and other sexual and reproductive health
concerns.