India rape cases turn focus back onto women's safety

A series of rape incidents in India has reignited discussions about women's safety and questioned whether recent legal reforms and harsher penalties have been effective in preventing sexual violence. On Wednesday, hundreds of students protested in New Delhi, demanding stronger safety measures after yet another high-profile case emerged.

In this incident, three men who posed as police officers allegedly gang-raped a 17-year-old girl in a public park in the capital city, according to authorities. This case is reminiscent of the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physical therapy student on a bus, which sparked nationwide protests and led to more stringent laws against sexual violence.

However, campaigners argue that these changes, including a broader definition of sexual offenses and stiffer penalties for rape, have not been sufficient.

Women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana told AFP that the root issue lies in changing societal attitudes. "Nobody is working on the actual solution, which is the mindset change," she said. "The mentality (is still) that it is a woman's fault to be out of home late, or men policing women if they are seen with another man." She emphasized that it is outrageous that society still holds such beliefs.

According to official data, India recorded an average of 80 rape cases per day in 2024, compared to approximately 68 per day in 2012, the year before the tougher laws were implemented. However, activists believe the true number of sexual assaults is likely much higher due to many victims not reporting incidents, often due to fear of stigma in a deeply patriarchal society.

The alleged assault reported on Monday followed two other recent rape cases in Delhi. In one case, a 16-year-old girl's decomposed body was discovered by police, and in another, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a bus driver and conductor who offered her a ride during heavy rain. Both incidents occurred in recent weeks. Other regions are not immune to such crimes, with a video recently surfacing showing a teenage girl being sexually assaulted in the eastern state of Bihar.

Each case has resulted in arrests, political condemnation, and public outcry. Despite these responses, the issue persists in other areas. Activists argue that the enforcement of laws is the real problem. Overburdened police forces and courts struggle to investigate cases thoroughly, hindering the impact of the reforms. Criminal lawyer Shilpi Jain, who has represented survivors of sexual violence, stated that the challenge lies not in the law itself but in the people responsible for implementing it.

"The problem is not in the law but with the people who are implementing it," she said. "Overworked judges. Overworked cops. One police station handles 200,000 to 300,000 people. How will it work? This is a vicious cycle."

Despite these efforts, India's conviction rate for rape has remained largely unchanged since 2012, at around a quarter of all cases that reach trial. The criminal justice system is also burdened with a vast backlog of cases. Less than 10 percent of the over 200,000 rape cases before the courts in 2024 were actually completed, according to official data.

On average, a rape case takes seven to eight years to conclude, and if it reaches the Supreme Court, it can take up to 20 years. Criminals appear to lose fear of the law, while victims lose hope in seeking justice. For gender rights activist Poonam Muttreja, legal reforms alone are insufficient. She believes that deep-rooted cultural taboos and political resistance have hindered the effectiveness of government programs aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence.

She emphasized that prevention must begin much earlier, in homes, schools, communities, digital spaces, and even police systems.