Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (1956), Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (1986), Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act (1987), Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005)
Paragraph 7.1 of National Policy for Empowerment of Women 2001 lays down that ‘all forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic or societal levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence. Institutions and mechanisms/schemes for assistance will be created and strengthened for prevention of such violence, including sexual harassment at workplace and customs like dowry; for the rehabilitation of the victims of violence and for taking effective action against the perpetrators of violence. A special emphasis will also be laid on programmes and measures to deal with trafficking in women and girls. National Action Plan for implementation of the policy is yet to be developed.
Sections 294, 326 A and B, 354, 354 A, B, C and D, 509 of the Penal Code (1860)
The sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013
Under special legislation, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, girls and boys below 18 years of age are protected against penetrative sexual assault. As per exception 2, under section 375 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, married girls under 15 years of age are protected against marital rape. Under civil legislation, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, women in domestic relationships are protected against sexual violence. Under section 498A of IPC, married women are protected against cruelty by their husband and relatives of husband, under section 376B of IPC, married women living separately from their husband are protected against non-consensual sexual intercourse.
Hindu Marriage Act (1955)
Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act (1954)
Section 2(a) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act
Section 2(a) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act
For immediate and livelong harms or death, sections 319 to 326 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 dealing with punishments for voluntarily causing hurt and voluntarily causing grievous hurt
Government of India, National Commission for Women
Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development, One Stop Centre Scheme, August 2016
Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Women Safety Division
222,801 women beneficiaries for the period April 2022 to February 2023
Since 2019, the Department of Justice has set up 764 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) and 411 Special Courts (to try CSA cases) across 28 States in India for expeditious trial relating to sexual offences
In addition, 763 Family Courts are functional across the country (as of December 2022)
Nari Adalats under Mission Shakti Scheme (2022) speaks of alternate grievance redressal systems at gram panchayat level. The data on the scheme is not available
1 National Legal Services Authority; 39 State Legal Services Authorities; 676 District Legal Services Authorities; 2,350 Taluk/sub-district Legal Services Committees.
Women Help Desks established in 13,101 police stations; 150 Investigative Units for Crime against Women established in 36 States and Union Territories.
2,575 Investigating officers, prosecution and medical officers trained in collection, handling and transportation of forensic evidence by Bureau of Police Research and Development & Lok Narayan Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science in 2018-2019
3,254 police personnel trained in identifying, detecting and resolving cyber-crimes against women and children by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 2018-2019
730 One Stop Centers operational in 36 districts
34 Women Help Lines (Call 181) operational in 34 States and Union Territories
441 Shakti Sadans in 30 States and Union Territories
Emergency Response Support System (Call 112) operational in 35 States and Union Territories
National Legal Aid Helpline Number (15100)
8,800,000 women accessed One Stop Centers since 2015 to September 2022
1,100,145 women assisted through 181 Women Help Line in 2022
533,548 women accessed legal aid
Number of health units adapted the guidelines and protocol is not available. Guidelines and Protocols: Medico-legal Care for Survivors/Victims of Sexual Violence was published by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
