Violence Against Women: Review of Recent Enactments

Abstract

If oppression were to be tackled by enacting laws, then the last decade (19809) could be declared as the golden era for Indian women, when laws were given on a platter. During this period every single issue concerning violence against women taken up by the women's movement resulted in legislative reform.

The enactments conveyed a positive picture of achievement but the statistics revealed a different story (Table 1). Each year the number of reported cases of rape and unnatural death increased. The rate of convictions under the lofty and laudable legislation were dismal (Table 2) and hence, their deterrent value was lost. Some enactments turned out to be mere ornamental legislation or paper tigers.