Blog 7: Bill on Crime Against Women Passes in India

Following up on the topic that the majority of my blogs have covered, this weeks article, Bill on Crime Against Women Passes in India, is the most recent article covering the progression of the women's protection movement in India. Today, the Indian Parliament officially passed a comprehensive bill that "imposes stronger penalties on men who attack women and to criminalize offenses like stalking and voyeurism. Passing surprisingly quickly in both the upper and lower levels of parliament this afternoon, the bill also defines harsher punishments for "crimes like gang rape, and to make the police and prosecutors more responsive" when a rape has been reported. The most striking aspect of this bill is the statement that repeat offenders may face the death penalty. After the rise in the number of rapes across the country, it is no surprise that many people rallied behind the need for this bill, and for more rights for women and their sexual health and protection. While many are happy that there is now a bill in place that makes women feel more protected, many people involved in the push for this bill think that it is not enough. The article ended with a Ms. Grover saying this: "The spectrum of change India requires is much, much broader than amendments to the criminal laws, we need to really focus on enforcement and implementation."

Even though this amendment to current laws and the new aspects the bill brings to the table is greatly beneficial to the women it affects, it may not be enough. There were already laws in place that determined that these activities were illegal, it was the lack of enforcement that was the problem. Hopefully the harsher punishments in place for those police officers who didn't respond quickly enough to the gang-rape in December, and others like them will be enough to encourage better protection for women. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/world/asia/india-bill-toughens-penalties-for-attacks-on-women.html?_r=0