Dowry deaths account for substantial share of female homicides in India: Report
United Nations, Nov 27 : Dowry deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides in India despite legislation prohibiting it, according to a UN study which says the home is the most dangerous place for women around the world.
Around 87,000 women were killed around the world last year and some 50,000 - or 58 per cent - were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members. This amounts to some six women being killed every hour by people they know, according to new research published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In India the female homicide rate in 2016 was 2.8 per cent, higher than the rate in Kenya (2.6), Tanzania (2.5), Azerbaijan (1.8), Jordan (0.8) and Tajikistan (0.4). Further, in India 33.5 per cent of women and girls aged 15-49 who experienced physical violence (irrespective of perpetrator) at least once in their lifetime and 18.9 per cent in the past 12 months, according to data from 1995-2013.
Dowry-related deaths in India continue to be a matter of concern. The study noted that available data on dowry-related killings from the National Crime Records Bureau indicate that female dowry deaths account for 40 to 50 per cent of all female homicides recorded annually in India, representing a stable trend over the period 1999 to 2016.
"Despite legislation adopted by the Indian Government in 1961, prohibiting the payment of dowry, the practice continues throughout the country and dowry deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides," it said.
Sorcery accusations also affect some women living in countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania and can be the driver behind gender-related killings. Data from Papua New Guinea and India on homicide resulting from sorcery accusations show that, although in small proportions, this phenomenon still exists.
"While data are not sex disaggregated, it is likely that women account for a large share of the victims," it said.
The study, released for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, examines available homicide data to analyse the gender-related killing of women and girls, with a specific focus on intimate partner and family-related homicide and how this relates to the status and roles of women in society and the domestic sphere.
"While the vast majority of homicide victims are men, women continue to pay the highest price as a result of gender inequality, discrimination and negative stereotypes. They are also the most likely to be killed by intimate partners and family," UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said.
"Targeted criminal justice responses are needed to prevent and end gender-related killings. UNODC is releasing this research for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2018 to increase understanding and inform action."
Looking at the rate of female victims of homicide by intimate partners or family members, the study found that the global rate was around 1.3 victims per 100,000 female population.
In terms of geographical distribution, Africa and the Americas are the regions where women are most at risk of being killed by intimate partners or family members. In Africa, the rate was around 3.1 victims per 100,000 female population, while the rate in the Americas was 1.6 victims, in Oceania 1.3 and in Asia 0.9. The lowest rate was found in Europe, with 0.7 victims per 100,000 female population.
According to the study, tangible progress in protecting and saving the lives of female victims of intimate partner/family-related homicide has not been made in recent years, despite legislation and programmes developed to eradicate violence against women.
The conclusions highlight the need for effective crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women that promote victim safety and empowerment while ensuring offender accountability. The study also calls for greater coordination between police and the justice system as well as health and social services and emphasizes the importance of involving men in the solution, including through early education.
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Surjewala attacks Centre on LPG cylinder crisis, asks BJP how it will face voters
Bengaluru (PTI): Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government in the centre over the LPG cylinder crisis in the country, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday asked the BJP, how will it go to the voters in poll-bound states.
Claiming that the country was facing a "huge crisis", he attacked the centre over the depreciation of the Indian rupee to Rs 93 against the US dollar, terming it "worrisome" for both the economy and employment.
Surjewala, who is also the party in charge of Karnataka, said that during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as PM, Modi had said that the "prestige of the prime minister falls when the value of the rupee declines". Then the value of the Indian Rupee against the USD was at Rs 54 for a dollar.
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that despite the current situation, the government and the BJP remained "on mute mode", while ordinary households, small dhabas, restaurants and eateries were facing a severe crisis with a shortage of both commercial and domestic gas.
"Today, the Indian rupee has fallen to 93 rupees to a dollar, but the BJP, Prime Minister Modi and their government remains on a mute mode. Ordinary households, small dhabas and restaurants, and small eateries feel the crisis today. No commercial gas is available, no domestic gas is available," he claimed.
The Congress leader alleged that people were buying gas cylinders in black at Rs 1,300.
"At this price, we will have to employ a security guard to protect every cylinder in India," he said sarcastically and alleged that the BJP is not taking responsibility for the situation.
He further alleged that the Centre had raised the price of domestic gas twice and commercial gas thrice, and also increased the price of premium petrol and diesel.
"Tomorrow you will again raise the price of petrol and diesel. What should the ordinary Indian do? Does the BJP have any answer? Do they even have a right to go and seek votes?" he asked.
While Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry are facing Assembly polls, two seats in Karnataka -- Davangere South and Bagalkote -- will go for by-elections.
Speaking to reporters here, Surjewala demanded answers from BJP leaders and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.
"We demand from Kumarswamy why he is keeping mum? Why are they quiet? Price of commercial gas goes up three times, price of domestic gas goes up two times, price of premium petrol and diesel goes up, price of petrol and diesel is about to go up," he said.
Alleging that while the unemployment rate for graduates in India is 67 per cent and the artificial intelligence revolution is leading to loss of jobs in India, he alleged that the BJP does only communal politics.
The Congress leader asserted that the BJP had no right to seek votes until it answered these questions.
