Council of Councils
Think Global Health
Online Store
Introduction
Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. But despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate…
Violence Against Women in India: Three Things to Know
January 8, 2013 12:57 pm (EST)
- Explainer Video
A brutal New Delhi gang rape has triggered outrage across India. CFR’s Isobel Coleman highlights three things to know about the case, and discusses the larger issue of violence against women in the country:
More From Our Experts
- Gender Inequality at the Root: "In India, girls are valued less than boys," she says, "and this results in many inequalities in society." In addition to rampant sex-selective abortions, Coleman points to significant disparities in access to health care and education.
- A Culture of Complicity: "Culturally, there’s not enough exposure and conviction against those who are perpetrating acts of violence against women," Coleman says. Citing examples of cases where police officers have pressured victims to keep silent or even marry their rapists to avoid prosecution, she says there is "a culture of complicity around violence against women."
- Opportunity for Change: The recent demonstrations are unprecedented in India, and could mark a turning point, Coleman says. "It could in fact result in some substantive changes for women. In particular for violence against women, but more broadly throughout society," she says.
Top Stories on CFR
Brad Setser, the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the causes and consequences of China’s export surge.
Extraordinary U.S. government incentives are proving popular with many large chipmakers, but it is too early to tell how much of the semiconductor industry can be lured back to the United States.
After two decades in office, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will pass the baton to the ruling party’s chosen successor, who faces a complex geopolitical environment and growing challenges to the party’s leadership at home.