In ancient India, women held high respect, but societal changes led to a decline in their status. Negative trends include declining sex ratio, health, literacy rates, and increasing social evils.

Meaning of Crime/Violence Against Women:

• • “Crime against women” refers to direct or indirect physical or mental cruelty directed at women.
  • Encompasses various crimes where women are the specific victims, including rape, dowry deaths, and torture.
  • “Violence against women” includes gender-based acts resulting in physical, sexual, or psychological harm.
  • Domestic violence involves abuse within the home, such as physical aggression, threats, and emotional abuse.

United Nations Definition:

• • The UN’s 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines gender-based violence causing harm to women.
  • Encompasses acts like threats, coercion, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty, occurring in public or private life.

Forms of Violence:

• • Criminal violence includes rape, abduction, murder, dowry deaths, and wife battering.
  • Domestic violence involves various forms like physical abuse, threats, sexual abuse, and economic deprivation within the home.
  • Social violence encompasses issues like eve-teasing, forcing foeticide, and compelling widows to commit sati.

Impact on Society:

• • Violence against women affects a large section of society, causing physical, psychological, and social harm.
  • Negative consequences include disrupted law and order, agitations, economic implications, and hindrance to societal development.

International Perspective – UN Definition:

• • The UN’s definition underlines the global recognition of violence against women as a pervasive issue requiring elimination.
  • Acts as a guideline for countries worldwide to address and combat gender-based violence.