A Socio-Legal Study Of Gender Based Violence In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 21, 2025
- 2 min read
Krishnokoli Basu, Assistant Professor of Law, Kolkata Police Law Institute
ABSTRACT
Acts of violence committed to any person because of their gender is termed as Gender Based Violence or GBV. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), GBV is a major human rights violation and has various life threatening consequences for the victims. GBV is recognised as a serious issue in the entire world. The socio-legal circumstances of this matter in India are no better. People of all age groups fall prey to this kind of crime in India on a daily basis. It can be done verbally, physically, psychologically and sexually. It happens within households as well. GBV against individuals who suffer from disabilities, GBV against women, GBV against transgender people etc. are the various forms of it. Women are subjected to abuse and exploitation at every opportunity available. It has been observed over time that women are particularly likely to become victims of gender-based violence, regardless the notion that the phrase is gender neutral. Indian society is a patriarchal one and male dominance is deep-rooted in its culture. Women become harassed and are treated with cruelty just because of their gender. Abortion of a girl child, female genital mutilation, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment at workplaces and rape are the various types of violence committed against women. There are legal provisions and Constitutional mandates available to counter this menace. But implementation and awareness are not enough. Fears of getting ostracised and power struggles do not allow justice to the victims. This encourages the perpetrators to continue with their pervy nature. This paper aims at exploring the extent of the prevalence of GBV in India and the combative measures available for it.
Keywords: abuse, exploitation, gender, human rights violation, socio-legal, violence.
