A society that is unable to respect, protect and nurture its women and children loses its moral moorings and runs adrift.
In a survey conducted by Thomson Reuters’ TrustLaw Women, a hub of legal information and legal support for women’s rights, India ranks with Afghanistan, Congo and Somalia as one of the most dangerous place for women.
A casual scan of the front page of any major Indian newspaper assaults the reader with shocking incidents of violence against women and children. The recent YouTube video of a teenage girl being molested by a mob in Guwahati caused a national outcry. In a country where women and girls are traditionally revered as the Mother and the Goddess, this is simply unacceptable. A society that is unable to respect, protect and nurture its women and children loses its moral moorings and runs adrift. This problem cannot be solved by the government alone but by a national awakening involving the entire country and civil society.
While women in India generally face numerous disadvantages — poor health indicators, lower literacy rates, lower income levels, poor female to male ratio due to sex-selective abortions and female infanticide, to list a few — the last few years have witnessed some astonishing acts of violence against women and children. Last year, 24,206 cases of rape were registered in police stations across India. Acts of violence registered against women in 2010 total around 2,13,585. Swayam, a Kolkata-based NGO, asserts that between 2005 and 2009, when the overall crime rate rose by 16%, crimes against women rose by 31%. Conviction on rape charges is also likely to be extremely low.
This social malaise needs to be treated as a national security issue at the highest levels of government, both at the Centre and in States. A recent letter signed by various prominent citizens and activists was sent to the Prime Minister in May 2012. The letter drew his attention to various actions that need to be taken to protect and care for women and children who have been sexually and physically abused and to hold the police accountable.
An important change that can be implemented is to make a start in schools. Mandatory child and women’s rights education should be included in the curriculum and the spotlight put on violence against women and children in all its forms. Instead of staying away from such taboo topics, teachers should deal with them in the classroom. A nationwide teachers training programme must be introduced to ensure that the subject is properly taught.
Three-tier approach
Prosecution and strict legal action are likely to provide an important deterrent. This could be a three-tier approach. First, it is important to increase reporting of rape and assault. Across the world, rape is a generally underreported crime; this is all the more true in India. It is essential that women and children be educated on their rights on reporting of a violent act against them through an active social media campaign.
Second, it is absolutely vital that law enforcers are trained to react swiftly and with sensitivity to women and children who have been harassed, assaulted or raped. Sensitivity training and knowledge of the rights of women and children are another vital need and must be made mandatory for all law enforcement agencies.
Third, punishments need to be exemplary and widely covered in the media. There has to be a “shock and awe” campaign of zero tolerance of sex offenders and those who kill and violate women and children. Fast track courts should be established to ensure that the law is surgical and unrelenting in pursuing and ensuring that such offenders face the full force of justice, regardless of their rank and station.
Finally, a nationwide campaign is needed to reignite India’s core values and traditions that respect and nurture women and children. This can only be borne out of consensus in society. Awareness amongst men of the scope of this issue is critical. Men who turn a blind eye to such brutal acts in their own neighbourhoods, communities and families are just as culpable as those that perpetrate these acts. Action from courts and police will not suffice if the community remains defiantly opposed to change.
So the biggest question remains: how exactly to engage the entire populace to initiate a change in mindset? How can a national conversation on this subject be leveraged into national action?
(These are personal views of the author and do not in any way reflect that of the organisation he serves or has served in the past. Siddharth Chatterjee was a Major in the Indian Army. His email ID is sidc@alumni.princeton.edu)
Very well said Sidharth. Indeed there is a urgent need to raise the public interest. This is particularly important when India is concerned about it's international status, while basic human rights are not safeguarded at home. This is one of those urgent issues but certainly not the only one. It is important that justice prevails.
thank you sir for raising this burning issue.we have a very week civil society. yes. it is fact. also our society is losing its original root of glorious culture and traditions. one more thing that our society is not so bold to say what is right and shout on what is wrong. we as a parents always discriminate between gender.so is our society.what. society is what we are.every one know what should be and what not because each one of us has conscious.but it requires courage to express the voice of conscious.some more thing i would like to comment on this issue;
1st the culture of discussion must be rejuvinate in all the stages and in all the institutions of our life & society. because through this only we can diagnose this psychological desease that is in the form of rape,murder and molestation.discussion between parents, between child and parents, between students and teachers,between all A and B in all the social and political and what else institution it may,will cure this sickness
In Brazil too we have many problems of rape and violence against women and children. I thank the author for having raised a very important social issue. And many of his recommnedations apply to Brazil as well. If the Brazilan Government can implement these recommendations that will see a big decrease of this problem which is casuing so much distress to many women and girls. Siddharth Chatterjee is right in saying that this needs everyone to do their part in particular civil society. Governments cannot solve this problem by themselves and men need to stand up in support of all women and children and not allow this to happen.
Our problem is copying the west in almost all respect which are easy
to follow. Like fashions, dresses, marriages, divorces etc. The
society we are copying is not a happy society. Although they are
rich, but happiness factor is very low. Reason , they do not look at
life in bigger perspective. When the aims are very short sighted,
temporary short term pleasures, such events are likely to happen. Let
, we parents follow our culture and nurture the same in our wards. A
child learns maximum at home. Particularly manners and life style can
be more taught at home. Let us be positive and keep showing light to
our children. Definitely the situation can change.
Superb article outlining an agenda for action. For the mindset to change the mind
needs to be open - following the agenda will help but specific groups need to be targeted who have the biggest leverage. Mind, heart and actions are inextricably linked. Questions that people will ask: why should I change my behaviour? Key is to establish the right cultural environment, so that there is an open and candid debate on the subject. An holistic approach is required.
Andy
good piece and thought provoking too.priyanka talks of orientation in social behaviour.true. women need to be treated as equal citizens to men.our police and judiciary are no doubt aware and awake.for fear thereof, men harass women in subtle ways.where will the woman go for evidence and FIR.in many cases the older women like mother and sister goad the man out of spite making the young woman helpless.we women should join hands and fight it out even against the older women said above.the young woman of today is never again going to be the unpaid cook or servant or dumb pleasure giver as was done in the past.trying to draw stregth from the so called indian society or culture is pure cowardice.our young girls need to strengthen themselves against such a possible onslaught.it is possible only with time bound education.
The author has rightly raised a burning issue. The question is how we can build a
national movement against crime targeted at women and children. This has to be
driven by the society, as would the movements targeting corruption and
governance.
Little has been done to tackle crime targeted at women and children. But while
crime against women is at least recognized as a problem and has received some
attention in the country by media, NGOs and the government, that against children has not even received visibility. As per figures released by the government during a question in the parliament on an average fourteen children go missing daily (yes, daily!) in Delhi alone. This is when in a large number of cases the police refuses to even file a missing person report. So the actual figures would be even higher. It does not need much imagination that large scale child trafficking mafias are at work.
This article of yours has made me think. After going through this
article I find myself in a position where I could now raise my voice
against this ill treatment women of our society are facing
Good article Siddharth. Well done. It is interesting how a nation can be silent or unresponsive to crimes against 60 per cent of its population. If a neighbor would have attacked even 2 per cent of our population we would have gone to war or UN Security Council. But here with attack on 60 per cent of our population we are do little, as if they don’t matter or they don’t belong. As Sid’s former boss in UNICEF South Sudan, I can confirm that he has always been a strong support for the weak and the vulnerable.
I appreciate my friend, Siddharth Chatterjee's courageous effort at highlighting the tragedy that women face everyday not only in India, but a story that is happening in many parts of the world. Siddharth who has served in some of the most difficult parts of the world during his career in UNICEF and the UN has stood up for the weak and vulnerable, in places like Somalia, Darfur, Iraq etc. He was responsible for the demobilization of 3551 child soldiers in South Sudan. I sincerely hope this article becomes a trigger for positive change and I agree with him that this is a problem that the Government and the police cannot solve alone. The entire country needs to come together. Well done Sid
I would like to appreciate the author's effort to discuss the problems of women.The incidents of molestation of women have become a common affair and our law and order is highly inefficient in tackling the problems of women.Here, women are being assaulted in public and the spectators rather than reaching out to her help post its videos in social networking sites for the world to see and joy.The perception that women are tools for sexual enjoyment is the reason behind these kind of activities.I would like to respond to three tier approach suggested by the author
1)If a woman complaints that she is being raped ,how will the society
respond ?Will anybody raise their voice in her favour?Won’t media
celebrate this issue by hosting a set of panel discussions?
2)Justice delayed is justice denied. The loopholes in judicial system
are well utilized by the assailants to get them acquitted of their
charge. The time delay in the prosecution of rape cases and the trauma
of facing the derogative questions in courts pulls back the rape
victims from attending the courts.
3)The punishments like death penalty must be given to assiliants.Often
people committing these kinds of crimes are from high profile
backgrounds that the use the power of money and position to manipulate
and tamper the evidence. The death penalty given to GovindaChami in
Soumya murder case of Kerala is a good example on how to deal with
such cases.
Our youth must be given proper education on how women should be
treated. A new topic like social behavior must be introduced in school
curriculum.It’s high time to realize that women are not mere objects
for child bearing, child rearing and house hold work.We have campaigns
against corruption.Why can’t we think of a campaign for women safety?
Is that not a need of the hour?Thanks to certain programmes like
Satyamev Jayate that sent out a strong message for women
protection.Let us join our hands and fight for women, for ensuring her
safety is the best way to ensure the progress our country.
The author deserves praise for raising this issue. The govt at the centre and in the states Should examine the issue, as lack of protection to the women is against the interests of The nation. It is true the government will have to tackle complex issues , but the present Issue is really serious, and if serious thought is not given, the nation will have to regret.
I agree with Meenkshi's comment. More men need to speak up against the atrocities being committed against women in India. Over 50 million girls are missing due to female infanticide. I agree with the Siddharth's remark, A society that is unable to respect, protect and nurture its women and children loses its moral moorings and runs adrift". Well done for raising this very important social issue. India must be respected for its human rights and not be compared with Somalia and congo.
Thank you for this excellent article Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee. I hope you inspire other men to raise their voice against this terrible practice of violence against women. I agree with the suggested way forward. I would also encourge schools to teach girls methods to defend themselves. I hope more women join the police forces too. It is time to make India safe for all women and children.
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