The brutal rape and murder of a 33-year-old nurse in Uttarakhand has sparked outrage, coming amidst a national wave of anger following the similar incident of a doctor’s murder in Kolkata. The arrest of the accused, Dharmendra, highlights the alarming prevalence of violence against women in India.
Three recent incidents in Karnataka highlight the disturbing trend of men killing women after being rejected or scorned. In Kodagu, a 16-year-old girl was beheaded by a 33-year-old man after she agreed to an engagement with another person. In Hubballi, a first-year MCA student was stabbed to death on campus by a former classmate who was allegedly obsessed with her. And in Bengaluru, a 46-year-old man killed his 25-year-old colleague after she ended their relationship. These incidents underscore the toxic masculinity pervasive in society, where men feel entitled to control and possess women and resort to violence when their advances are rejected.
Despite government efforts, hundreds of women have lost their lives to male violence in Australia over the past decade. This year alone, 25 women have been killed by men. The community is outraged, and the government is under pressure to take more drastic action. One suggestion is to establish a register of offenders similar to that used to monitor convicted sex offenders. This would give women the right to ask about any potential safety risks their partners may pose. Another idea is to allow police to issue intervention orders via mail or social media, bypassing the need to go through the courts. The Albanese government has also been urged to establish a national royal commission into the causes of this violence.
Despite the ongoing crisis of violence against women, societal focus remains insufficient. The issue of modelling in parliament and society, where negative behaviors are pervasive, needs attention. The criminal justice system should take police recommendations for bail approvals more seriously, as they possess vital knowledge about potential offenders. The senseless murder of Molly Ticehurst highlights the need for stiffer bail laws for potential AVO offenders and the use of personal trackers to deter stalkers.
Despite evidence suggesting that previous flashing crimes could have prevented Sarah Everard’s murder, only 10.9% of indecent exposure and voyeurism cases in London resulted in prosecutions last year. Police chiefs have recognized the severity of the issue and are now prioritizing the pursuit of perpetrators of violence against women, with the number of rape reports increasing by 244%. The hearing was organized by the Home Affairs Select Committee in response to concerns about the rising number of crimes such as indecent exposure and upskirting, especially in light of recent high-profile cases linked to offenders with a history of such offenses.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged men and boys to take responsibility for ending violence against women, saying it is a scourge that is unacceptable. He also announced that the government has committed additional funding to provide safe places for women.
