Women’s safety is the world’s issue but primarily crimes against women in India is increasing every minute. Despite amending severe laws against the offenders the stats do not seem to do down. So women, maybe it is time to pull your socks and take your safety in your own hands. Here are a few protective laws that will help you do so…
Women in the world are doing wonders and hustling every day to fight the age-old misogyny of our society. However, their charts are still not in our favor. Be it inferences of sexual favors, harassment or abuse, we combat through it every day. With a constant increase in offenses against women, knowing your rights is of paramount importance. Knowing protective laws can not only help you save yourself from an unjust act but also position you to help people around you.
So we have listed down a few protective women law and how can you go ahead with basic proceedings against these acts:
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 (Women Redressal, Prevention, and Prohibition)
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act is an act that intends to prevent, prohibit and redress any act accounting to sexual harassment. Use of language with any inference to sexual remark, innuendoes or touch, nonconsensual proximity, etc can account for sexual harassment at the workplace.
So if you are your known ones have been facing any such issues, make sure you educate them about the same. Let women around you know about your company’s Internal Complaints Committee and speak out loud. The sole purpose of the act is to ensure the safety of women in their workplace.
Indecent Representation of Women(Prevention) Act,1986
Indecent Representation of Women(Prevention) Act aims to prohibit indecent and obscene representation of women in an advertisement, painting, publications, writings, figures or any place else. The act is not known by a lot of people but can combat the indecent representation of women in our society.
Prohibition of Dowry Act
The Prohibition of Dowry Act is one of the most crucial laws that is helping women break the shackle of patriarchy in India. The act prohibits any transaction, be it giving or taking of dowry from either of the two families. If any person in the family does so, they can be penalized under the act.
The Dowry system is an age-old norm in India. A norm that was too normalized to be spoken against. Quite often the dowry in our society is demanded from the bride’s family by the Groom’s family. In a perspective, the norm has a strong root in society due to a lack of financial independence in women.
Regardless of the fact that the act is in force, there are a number of cases where women are seen to be tortured, beaten, harassed, and even burnt. It is a major challenge that society is grappling with but the act makes it a deterrent. Although, the only way out to help the women in need is to speak out and educate everyone around you about the same! Because the revolution begins with YOU!
Special Marriage Act, 1954
Special Marriage Act is intended to ease special forms of marriages and provides for registration to the divorce filing. In a country like India, inter-caste marriage or inter-religion marriages are still not okay with a lot of people. The struggle to get through marriage from different faith is real and the actors make it easier to help individuals ease the process.
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act,1971
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act aims to reduce the occurrence of illegal abortion and consequent maternal mortality and morbidity. The act clarifies the conditions under which a fetus can be aborted and the pregnancy can be ended. It also specifies who is qualified to conduct the procedure.
National Commission for Women Act, 1990
NCW i.e The National Commission for Women is a statutory body of the Government of India that was established in 1992. NCW voices out for women’s rights in India and addresses their concerns. This has been extensively helping the upliftment of women and their economic status.
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
A much-needed act to implement ground level equality for women in India. The Equal Remuneration Act prevents gender discrimination in terms of providing remuneration. Equal pay is a right that shouldn’t be fought for. Regardless of your gender, you deserve to be compensated fairly. Being aware of these laws can not only protect your interest but also help you fight against an unjust act in society.
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (2005)
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence is an important law every woman must know about! Domestic Violence sadly still prevails in our society, primarily because of toxic masculinity in and around us. The law provides protection to women who are in a relationship with a man (husband or live-in partner). A woman can file a complaint against her partner for causing mental, emotional, physical or even psychological hard that has caused a potential threat to her life and sanity. The law post amendment of 2005 extends to widowed women, divorced women and sisters.
Hindu Succession Act (2005)
The Hindu Succession Act protects the interest of Hindu Women to have shared in the ancestral property. The amendment made in 2005 made it clear that daughters have fair and equal rights in her ancestral property even after her marriage.
Maternity Benefits Act (2017)
The Maternity Benefit Act is known by most of us as it protects the interest of women working during pregnancy. Under this act, if a woman has worked with an employer for more than 80 days during the 12 months preceding to her expected delivery, the employer must grant special facilities to women like compensated Work from Home, Paid Maternity Leave from 12 to 26 weeks, Medical allowance, Creche facilities at the workplace.
Street Harassment/Eve Teasing
The IPC i.e. Indian Penal Code has not defined Eve Teasing or Street Harassment but it surely does protect you from it. Any act that pertains to harassing a woman in public such as passing derogatory remarks or outraging the modesty of a woman can be filed against. Section 294 & 509 of the Indian Penal Code protect women’s safety and restrains an individual to pass any such remark or gesture towards women.
Know What Authority Do The Cops Have On You
Every police station should have a lady police officer who is not below the post of a Head Constable round the time.
A woman cannot be in any circumstances be arrested by a male cop in the absence of a lady constable.
A woman cannot be arrested post-sunset and before sunrise.
A woman can be only investigated at her residency.
The medical procedure of a rape survivor can only be done by a government hospital. A rape survivor can tape her testimony at any place of her choice.
All women are entitled to avail of free legal aid.
Women’s safety is the world’s issue but primarily crimes against women in India is increasing every minute. Despite amending severe laws against the offenders the stats do not seem to do down. So women, maybe it is time to pull your socks and take your safety in your own hands. Here is some self-defense guide by Fuzia that can help you be safe.
The laws and jurisprudence are perfectly designed to protect, safeguard and empower the women of the country. They do not require any change, but their enforcement does. What our society lacks is a proper civic sense and proper enforcement of the laws. Once this is done, there certainly will be a change.
Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.