Violence against women and children are the worst form of crime against humanity since one half of the society commits violence against their own “half”of the population who are their partners in life, under the mantle of dominance enjoyed by them.  Society often sees this as a non-issue demanding no dialogue or a subject worth deliberation.  The mainstream society has hundred and one other irrelevant subjects to dialogue starting from inner party differences, personal life of celebrities and scams etc..etc.. and pages and pages of newspaper is used for this.

The mainstream society has a double standard in this regard.  The heinous crimes committed against women are brushed aside as a ‘single’ issue as if it does not require the ‘public time’ to look at it.  All other issues are taken up as a development issue.  In fact in a society where one half of its population is subjected to violence and cruelty in their private and public life cannot achieve any development in its true sense, since their potential to develop and contribute to the society is crushed down by violence meted out to them.

This face of the society treating it as a ‘non-issue’, and inability to open its eyes to the real submissive, and subjugated status of women is yet another conscious and systematic conduct exhibited by the society, making their insensitivity crystal clear.  This insensitivity it the first steep to shed off any responsibility on the issue.

Secondly the deep silence observed on the issue, total inaction upon the happening of a crime, reluctance to consider it to be a topic for discussion in the public domain, their latent and patent support to the wrongdoer, the inclusive and recognized status which the wrong doer enjoys in the society, in spite of his wrongdoing, and the lack of political will to socially boycott the wrongdoer all creates a fertile soil for this wrongdoer to grow, flourish and repeat the crime.  All this depicts clearly the society’s irresponsible attitude to the issue.

There are some other groups, who become all of a sudden “law abiding”.  They dismiss the issue saying that let ‘law take its course’ or let law do whatever it wants to do with it, legal procedures, delay in investigation, lengthy trial and all benefit of doubt showered upon the accused, under the guise of our philosophy of criminal justice system favoring accused etc.... does not adequately punish the accused.  Here the punishment sends out no ripples to the society and again the same is not a matter for “dialogue”, rather, even if punished the wrongdoer’s image emerges out as a “hero” .

 The underlying factor is the ‘politics’ of the society not to see the issue, very soon its gravity shrinks on the very many interpretations to the crime by different groups competing to dilute the issue, adding ancient history, geography etc... and at last fail in their attempt to awaken the wrongdoer or the potential wrongdoers.

Thirdly, the constant “sermon” delivered upon the victim to trivialise the issue, to live with the problem, and the ordeous saga in search of justice, etc...do not serve the reformative theory of law, on the other hand, sheds the society’s responsibility on the issue, leaving it to the victims fate.

Alarming statistics of increase of crimes against women, and girl children should drive the consciousness of the society to take a serious look at the issue.  Judicious and sensitive response to these issues will start the ball rolling for creation of a just society.  All professionals and public should start with an introspection and evaluate their own contribution of sensitivity to crimes against women.

Unless conscious and serious efforts are made to awaken social consciousness, the crimes against women will remain as they are now.  Humanity needs to take a positive stand to curb gender violence.  Owning the responsibility to curb violence against women is the first step in this regard.