EVERY March 8, the world celebrates women’s achievements. Yet behind the speeches and slogans lies a harder truth: millions of women still live with fear, violence, and silence. Women’s Day must move beyond symbolism toward accountability and structural change.
International Women’s Day, celebrated annually, serves as a global platform for advocating for women’s empowerment, acknowledging their achievements, and reinforcing commitments to gender equity. The day is marked by a variety of events, including conferences, award ceremonies, and public forums, aimed at elevating discussions of women’s resilience and contributions across sectors. Despite these celebratory efforts, it is essential to recognise and analyse the significant contradictions and challenges that persist within the broader context of gender equality initiatives.
In a hospital ward, a woman undergoing rehabilitation from an acid attack grapples with the multifaceted challenges of reconstructing her life post-trauma. Concurrently, another young woman contemplates the ramifications of reporting harassment, apprehensive that the protracted legal proceedings may exact a greater toll on her well-being than the initial violation. Meanwhile, in a domestic setting, a woman engages in a silent cost-benefit analysis, weighing the burdens of economic dependency against the pervasive emotional abuse she endures daily.
This painful reality serves as a reminder that Women’s Day must go beyond mere symbolism. It should be a time for us to empathise and honestly reflect on the social structures that continue to foster violence and inequality. Acknowledging these issues together allows us to understand better the experiences of those affected and helps us work towards a more compassionate and just world.
Violence against women extends beyond isolated events; it is a pervasive issue embedded within various environments, including homes, workplaces, public spaces, and, more recently, the digital realm. Frequently, the damage caused by such violence goes unnoticed. In addition to physical injuries, the consequences of violence often include psychological trauma, heightened fear, social isolation, and a silencing effect on survivors.
India has enacted several important legal protections for women, including the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005), the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act (2013), and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013).
These laws emerged from decades of activism and public outrage against injustice, symbolising the state’s commitment to stand as a protector for women against their oppressors.
Although enacting legislation is an important milestone, it is not enough to guarantee justice. The path from established law to the real experience requires our ongoing commitment and hard work.
Recent crime data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights the alarming prevalence of violence against women in India. In 2023, nearly 450,000 cases of crimes against women were recorded, indicating that violence persists despite the presence of legal protections. This frequency equates to approximately one reported incident against a woman every seventy seconds.
Among these reported offences, cruelty by husbands or relatives, a category closely linked to domestic violence, constitutes nearly one-third of all cases. National surveys further underscore this issue. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), nearly one in three married women in India reports experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual violence at the hands of their spouse.
These figures extend beyond mere statistics; they encapsulate the lived experiences of women, whose suffering frequently remains unrecognised. Furthermore, statistics regarding rape reveal disconcerting realities. The NCRB reports indicate that in the majority of recorded rape cases, the assailant is known to the victim, often a neighbour, acquaintance, or family member. Consequently, violence is not solely a menace posed by strangers; it frequently arises within familiar social relationships.
Dr Shalu Nigam, a legal scholar, conducts research on domestic violence law and justice systems in India. Her analysis posits that domestic violence should not be perceived solely as a private familial issue; rather, it must be recognised as a structural problem that is deeply embedded in unequal gender relations and social power dynamics.
For decades, abuse within the household was dismissed as a “family matter.” Women were often pressured to remain silent to preserve family honour and social stability.
This culture of silence allowed violence to persist across generations.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) was a significant step because it broadened the definition of abuse to include emotional, verbal, sexual, and economic violence. However, many women who attempt to seek legal protection still encounter serious obstacles: lack of legal awareness, financial dependence, social stigma, and lengthy judicial processes.
Legal rights become meaningful only when institutions are capable of enforcing them.
Discussions on gender justice in India often intersect with the prevailing stereotypes surrounding Muslim women, framing their experiences through a lens of oppression and passivity. This dominant narrative perpetuates a reductionist and monolithic view of their realities, obscuring the nuanced historical and social contexts that shape their lives.
Significantly, Islamic legal traditions have historically afforded women a range of rights, including inheritance, property ownership, marital consent, and financial security through mechanisms such as mehr (a mandatory gift, money, or property a Muslim husband gives to his wife upon marriage). Within their respective historical contexts, these provisions served as critical safeguards for women, challenging oversimplified perceptions of their status and agency.
At the same time, the realities of Muslim women in South Asia have been shaped by a combination of religious interpretation, local customs, economic marginalisation, and patriarchal social structures.
Muslim women, similar to those in various other cultural contexts, often encounter challenges such as domestic violence, restricted economic opportunities, and obstacles in accessing justice systems. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that they are not merely passive agents in the pursuit of reform. Across India, a diverse array of Muslim women’s organisations, scholars, and activists are advancing legal literacy, fostering gender justice, and advocating for new interpretations of religious laws that uphold women’s dignity and rights.
This grassroots activism illustrates that the quest for equality does not arise solely from external pressures; rather, it often originates within communities, reflecting their unique perspectives and aspirations for social change.
International Women’s Day serves as an important reminder that recognition alone is insufficient; it must lead to real and lasting change in society. To achieve meaningful progress toward gender equality, a comprehensive approach is essential. This approach should include:
Enhanced institutional responses to gender-based violence, ensuring that incidents are addressed swiftly and effectively to safeguard the rights and safety of women.
By focusing on these critical areas, we can work towards a society that more effectively supports and empowers women:
* Justice systems that are not only expedited but also accessible, allowing survivors to navigate legal processes without facing additional barriers.
* Law enforcement and judicial practices that prioritise sensitivity to gender issues contribute to a supportive environment. This fosters a climate where victims feel valued and respected during their interactions with police and the court system.
* An increased level of legal awareness among women is essential for empowering them to comprehend their rights and explore available avenues for recourse in situations of discrimination and violence. Furthermore, economic empowerment through educational and vocational training equips women with the skills to achieve financial independence, enabling them to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Additionally, fostering active community engagement is crucial for challenging and dismantling harmful practices and attitudes. social norms and stereotypes, promoting a culture of respect and equality.
The problem of violence against women isn’t limited to certain communities; rather, it reflects wider societal inequalities that require a united effort and dedication to creating a fairer and more equitable world for everyone.
The statistics disseminated in official reports serve as indicators of the lived experiences of women—mothers, daughters, students, and professionals—who often face constraints imposed by systemic fear and insecurity. This leads to a pivotal inquiry on International Women’s Day: Is the societal framework designed to facilitate women’s empowerment, or merely to allow them to exist?
Empowerment transcends being a mere catchphrase, and the pursuit of equality should not be relegated to the scope of conference discussions. The persistent barriers that prevent women from moving through society without restrictions, articulating their identities without fear, and striving toward their aspirations with dignity underscore that the goals of Women’s Day remain inadequately addressed.
The main challenge regarding International Women’s Day is not just how it is celebrated, but the willingness to change the systems that perpetuate harm against women.
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Dr Shabistan Gaffar is Chairperson of All India Confederation for Women’s Empowerment and ex-chairperson of the women’s cell of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). She can be reached at shabistangaffar@gmail.com
