Is Low Conviction Rate The Reason Behind Rising Crimes Against Women in India?||GOA365

The recent horrific incidents of gang rape of a Spanish woman in Jharkhand and an acid attack on female students in Mangaluru underscore the grim reality of escalating crimes against women in India. Data suggests that one critical factor contributing to the rise in crimes against women in India could be the country’s low conviction rate.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against women have been on the rise, with a significant increase in cases of rape, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. The low conviction rate in these cases is a cause for concern,

with the rate for rape cases standing at a mere 27.8% in 2021. This means out of 100 accused, only 28 get convicted. This indicates that the majority of offenders are not being held accountable for their crimes, which may embolden potential criminals to commit similar acts with impunity.

The National Commission for Women or the NCW released data on complaints of crimes against women registered in 2023, revealing a total of 28,811 cases. Notably, Uttar Pradesh accounted for approximately 55% of these complaints, with 16,109 cases. This marks a slight decrease from 2022, when 30,864 complaints were recorded, the highest number since 2014.

According to the NCW data, the majority of complaints, around 8,540, fell under the 'right to dignity' category, which includes harassment other than domestic violence. Domestic violence complaints followed closely with 6,274 cases.

After Uttar Pradesh, Delhi registered the second-highest number of complaints with 2,411 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 1,343 cases. Other states with significant numbers include Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Karnataka.

The NCW data and the recent incidents in Jharkhand and Mangaluru serve as a chilling reminder of theongoing challenges faced by women in India, with a substantial number of complaints recorded across various categories.

The decrease in overall complaints since 2022 may indicate some progress, but continued efforts are essential to address the underlying issues and provide support for women facing these challenges.