What Women Want: Protection against Violence

Dr David Elangbam *

Programme on Violence against women and children in February 2010 at Motbung, Manipur

"It is difficult being a women in Delhi" was a cutting statement made by a famous bollywood actor who participated at a marathon in Delhi and while running she was touched by men in hurried stampede. This is a stark reality in a land where we have had charismatic women like Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla and many more. This is the most hurtful fact in this largest democratic country in the world. Women have been the victim of violence all through the ages in all societies, cultures, religions and regions.

In a recent survey, India ranks as the 4th most dangerous country for women to live in. Afghanistan tops the list followed by Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan. It is a huge sock that the biggest democracy in the world was the number four in world's countries unsafe for women. This is a critical part which the government and the people of the country have to think about because recently there has been an increase in the number of violence against women.

In India, there are indirect dangers that effect women and girls more than rape. Forced marriage, labour and sex trafficking added to the danger for women in the country. A Women Rights Lawyer said that Africa is better than India as women are not forced to marriage and they don't have dowry system.

Male domination is still a problem in India. Backwardness, lack of opportunities, health services and poor policing leads to male domination. Only a small percentage of women in India are professionals. A large majority are seen as highly dependent and non-productive as they don't add value to the family. In the past women used to suffer in silence, but today they cannot take it anymore.

Women have become assertive and men are not able to accept it. With more women entering the workforce, emerging as professionals competitors and exhibiting financial and emotional independence, the ill-feeling towards them has increased and men use their negative masculinity to punish them. Dr. Kiran Bedi, India's first IPS police officer remarked that corruption and negative masculinity are two sides of the coin and women suffer the consequences.

Different policies and approaches are to be implemented to combat and prevent violence against women. Some of the important policies are
(a) empowerment of victimized women by optimal support and assistance to avoid secondary victimization,
(b) raising public awareness and education of children and young persons because the old concept of dominance and suppression of women by men is to be changed and
(c) adjustment of the criminal and civil law to prevent violence against women.

NGOs and civil societies have an important role to play. They can mobilize a political will to eliminate violence against women. They can give training, educate, provide service and support, raising awareness, advocating and lobbying for better legislations or policies etc. Government laws are often not enforced. Advocacy and awareness by NGOs helps communities to implement laws and policies.

Recently, crime against women has increased alarmingly in the state. Rape, domestic violence, dowry related crime are frequently reported in the local newspapers as if Manipur is no more a safe state for women. The transition of the type of crime happening in other part of the country to our state is frightening.

Efficient law enforcement and proper implementation is required to prove that such crime is not only against the female gender but also against our society who always keeps women at high position. As mentioned earlier, the role of NGOs and civil societies has become an important role to prevent such crime in the state.

Women's organizations should take part a strong role to educate women for their own safety devices from such crime, support & assist to empower them and also educate the younger generation to change the old concept of suppressed, down-trodden women in the Indian society.

Now people should think in liberal manner and accept the role of women in developing our society. They should be given opportunities to explore their activities in the society. But it doesn't mean that they misused their modesty and it brings bad name to the society. Though effective governance is the key, the support of male society is a much needed factor to bring empowerment to female society and women should grip the opportunity firmly in order to prevent further crime against them.