16 DAYS, LIFELONG VIOLENCE: WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY ABOUT INDIAN WOMEN'S SAFETY

Every year, November 25-the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - kicks off 16 days of global activism.

- TDG NETWORK

India map of fast-track special courts, exclusive POCSO.

This year's UN theme is about ending digital violence, but the deeper story in India begins at home. Nearly one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or non-partner in their lifetime, according to WHO's latest estimates. New country data released this year suggest that more than 20% of Indian women aged 15-49 experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in 2023, and nearly 30% have faced it at some point in their lives.

These percentages sit uneasily beside the government’s claim of a “multi-pronged” response: stricter criminal laws after 2012, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and a growing grid of helplines, shelter homes and fast-track courts. Mission Shakti, the flagship umbrella scheme, now folds together the One Stop Centre program, women's helpline, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao under a “safety and empowerment” architecture. On November 25, official statements again highlighted this infrastructure as proof that India is serious about ending gender-based violence.