The protests following the horrific Delhi bus case in December 2012, led to new anti-rape laws in India in 2013. These laws criminalized a range of sexual assaults and allowed for death penalty of the perpetrators. This incident made everyone examine between South Asia and other countries of the world why girls and women receive fewer resources and are often victim to violent crimes. Are women safe in South Asian countries?
According to the 2004 Oxfam International paper, there are 50 million fewer women in South Asia than there should be—girl babies are killed before birth through sex-selective abortions, or die prematurely through violence and neglect. Millions more girls and women face discrimination—they have less to eat than boys and men, are denied an education, are forced into dowry marriages, have little or no access to health services, and suffer violence. It further adds that this situation will not just be changed by state laws and international agreements.
Until men’s and women’s belief that violence against women is a ‘private’ matter and culturally acceptable is challenged and changed, the violence and discrimination will continue. Here is to making women in South Asia feel safe and secure!
