The Big Picture: Fighting Crimes Against Women

The Centre has issued a fresh advisory to states and Union Territories on mandatory action in cases of crimes against women. The Centre said the probe into rape cases must be completed within two months as per law and that dying declaration of a victim can’t be discarded. The detailed three-page advisory of the home ministry came days after the alleged gangrape and murder of a woman in Haathras, Uttar Pradesh sparked nationwide outrage. The home ministry said there should be compulsory registration of a first information report in case of a cognizable offence under the CrPC. In this edition of The Big Picture we will analyse how to tackle crimes against women.

Guests:
1. Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Former Chairman, National Commission for Women
2. Dr. Vikram Singh, Former DGP, Uttar Pradesh
3. Urmi Goswami, Assistant Editor, The Economic Times

Anchor: Frank Rausan Pereira

Producer: Sagheer Ahmad

[akshatjain]

FIGHTING CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN -
• Context: Centre issued fresh advisory to States & UTs on mandatory action in cases of crime against women. Probe in rape cases must be completed within 2 months as per law & that dying declaration of victim can't be discarded. Also, Home Ministry said there should be compulsory registration of FIR in cases of a cognizable offence under CrPC
• Intro ->
o FIRs not filed in time, unnecessary questions asked, we are still an extremely women unfriendly country. Can't expect an immediate change but atleat lackadisical attitude will change after this directive. Even today things are as bad as 25 years ago, cult of masculinity still prevails & we treat atrocities & crimes against women as very trivial & not priorities of any police organization.
• Main body ->
o Many cases FIRs not even registered even though SC verdict in Lalitha Kumari Case is clear that FIR in cases of cognizable offence must be registered, REASONS behind this-
 Minimization of statistics of crime
 Police doesn't want to be seen in bad light like they were unable to prevent crimes
o Why is this still happening, What needs to be done?
 We discuss the crime & punishment for it but our conversation doesn't go to prevention
 We need to discuss prevention more frequently to address this issue --- Modi in 2014 stood @ ramparts of Red Fort & asked "when girls go out we ask where they are going & when they'll be coming back, BUT we don't ask the same our boys, WHY?"
 It is these kinds of conversations that need to happen
 We should focus on steps on 'Practical level' to ensure that fewer crimes are committed, For eg:
 More patrolling
 More street lights
 Creating safer street culture by ensuring lesser streets are deserted
 Conversations on this issue need to happen not just after commission of such heinous crimes but even without them, so that these very crimes can be prevented.
o Need for a Culture shift as well -- most crimes still happen within the confines of homes & victims are raped by people they know well like relatives/friends/etc --- most of these cases don't even make it to statistics
 Open social & cultural condemnation required of the overt masculinity that is still prevalent in our country
 Need for shifting the blame away from the victim & standing by her --- should be given the benefit of doubt
 Rape mostly a case of display of power and less about sex/caste/religion -- victims need to be empowered
 At least mothers & other women need to stand by the victim rather than blaming them
 Educating children, in fact brainwashing them to make sure they know that women are equal to men & deserve equal respect
o Police officers should be incentivised by rewarding good cops who ensure justice to the victims & the ones that do not do their duty should be shamed & punished under IPC section 166a
o Strengthening the police system & it's forensic apparatus also required.
o Parents should be held equally responsible for their child's behaviour
• Conclusion ->
o Victim or likely victim needs to be empowered, mothers need to stand by their daughters, women need to stand by women
o We need to create a culture of prevention, children need to be educated, parents held responsible for child's misbehaviour.
o Every district needs to have an easily accessible & competent forensic lab
o All the stakeholders need to get their act together, including Law makers, police officers, forensic dept, prosecutors, judiciary, medical & health dept, NGOs, rehabilitation centers.
o This needs to be looked at as a prevention issue, while policing reforms, & criminal reforms are important in ensuring prevention & justice, they can't be seen as a silver bullet, crime against women cannot be resolved in the court of law alone. A holistic approach & changing the entire ecosystem is what is required

[clashroyalekrypton]

Only debate where they don't discuss Castes and politics and government. Such meaningful debates are rare on the TV channels.

[sahilsinghchib]

One of the best episodes this series has produced . I am really impressed by the the knowledge and ability of expression of the penalists .

[rajatchaudhary]

Frank is not just a good anchor but also a good human being. Salute frank sir

[KaranSingh-dvmy]

Mai IAF me hu sir mere duty ke vheh se mai late se in programmes ko dekh pata hu but aapke debate ko kabhi miss nhi krta bahut kuch sikhne ko milta h 👍 thanku

[Gandhi_dehalvi]

kumarmangal mam analysis that rape is not about sex but because of power difference and imposition is superb...

[swaroopa]

Excellent discussion. Thank you so much Frank sir, and all other panelists.

[vivekkumar]

Debate touch's my heart. Level of the debate what's we expected from Rstv...thanxxx.

[dikshagupta]

It's really appreciable ...for summarising all the key points in the end .

[zapakshu]

Victims need to be empowered
Women need to stand up for women
Children need to be brainwashed about how a girl should be treated
Hold parents responsible for actions of children
Improve the investigative infrastructure, every dist need to hv forensic labs
Violence against women should not be politicised as well.

[bharatpatil]

Thank you so much Vikram Singh Sir for your valuable insights.

[nandinigond]

Please tell the first reason for not filing FIR given by Dr. Vikram Singh...

[bikramkumar]

Thanks RSTV for such an important discussion

[bholagujjargngyrgyfhccfguy]

I request u to RSTV pls improve the voice of the penalist, , may be some prblm bcz of network issue but pls RSTV consider this very

[gitacharak]

Very well explain by oll the penalists ....Thnkew Soo much RSTV nd Frank Sir🙏🙏🙏🙏

[fanpage]

Best suggestions from the Urmi Goswami. we need preventive measures.

[soniavarma]

Thanks sir for ur initiative of concluding remarks at the end in every show of big pucture.. this really helps. 😊👍

[theindian]

I have been watching The Big Picture daily for quite some time now and I would like to appreciate all the Panelists today for their great analysis and comments made thereon. I feel obliged that I could get to know the insights from them. It has been a good episode. This needs to be shared among masses. Coming to the Episode on Crimes against women, I feel ashamed that such are the situations that are prevalent in our country. All the suggestions made by the Panelists should be followed upon as I think these are the major problems that needs to be address in the current scenario.

[biswajitnoatia]

It’s a pretty good topic that everyone must award on this regard 🙏👌🏻

[deepakkumarparida]

This episode is very very Important and also learnable.