The Delhi Gang Rape: Assessing Violence against Women in India

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

The brutal gang rape and subsequent death of a medical student in 2012 led to an outrage in India and galvanized the nation into addressing the problem of violence against women. It compelled the Government of India (GOI) to make the safety and security of women a priority. On account of the moral outrage generated by women’s groups and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, the GOI was tasked with instituting reforms to ensure justice and to provide robust public services to improve the safety and security of women. The Criminal Law Amendment Act was passed in April 2013. Changes were instituted into the law so as to expressly recognize certain acts as offenses (acid attack, voyeurism, sexual harassment and stalking.) There were two fundamental changes that were instituted in which the character of the victim was rendered irrelevant and a presumption of no consent by the victim. Though these legal changes are important, Indian feminist organizations theorists argue that much more needs to be done when examining the International standards and indicators.

Sub Unit

• Area VIII: Roundtables

Participants

• Shagufta Farrukh Hakeem, Duke University

• Farrukh Hakeem, Shaw University