Gender Based Violence in India

The Global war for Women’s rights.

Women’s rights around the world are an important facet as to the full understanding of global well-being and has been an ongoing issue in international politics for many years. Everyday, millions of women from around the globe are being subjected to different forms of gender- based violence. From some of the most developed countries in the world to some of the still- developing countries, the on-going battle for basic human rights for women, are not being upheld. According to Ram Mashru, author of the article, Understanding India’s War on Women, India is said to be ‘one of the worst places in the world to be a woman’. The fight to see gender equality across India, as a whole, comes not without great difficulties. As Mashru states in his article, ‘more still needs to be done to criminalize sexual violence’. This article, in my opinion, highlights one of the many protuberant issues in world politics, that of women’s rights and sexual or gender-based violence.

The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women brings to light the vast array of gender-related dimensions of human rights issues. This convention, which was accepted in 1979, defines the rights of all women to be ‘free from discrimination and sets the core principles to protect this right’. This is a significant issue in world politics as in societies where women are not respected equally, they are often subject to tragic and devastating forms of sexual violence. The ultimate battle for universal rights amongst men and women to reduce the levels of sexual violence within our societies is pivotal to the success and future of our planet. The promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women is vital in todays ‘War on Women’. The battle to end degradation and all forms of sexual- or non- violence against women will then positively reflect on all people.

Due to the cultural premise that male-born children are ‘superior’ to...