Administrative data deficiencies plague understanding of the magnitude of rape-related crimes in Indian women and girls

Abstract

Background This paper investigates trends in rape-related crimes against women and girls reported in the Indian administrative data from 2001 to 2018 to assess the burden of crime, describe sub-national variations, and highlight data gaps to address sexual violence effectively in India. Methods Data on five rape-related crimes were extracted from the annual reports of National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), and included assault with the intent to outrage modesty of woman, rape, insult to the modesty of women, attempt to commit rape, and murder with rape/gang-rape. Rates for all categories combined, and for each crime were estimated for women and girls for India and its states. Trends for type of offender for rape, mean number of people arrested, and legal status of the cases was also assessed. Results The rate of all rape-related crime increased from 11.6 in 2001 to 19.8 in 2018 per 100,000 women and girls. Most of the 70.7% increase in rate between 2001 and 2018 was post 2012 following a gang-rape and murder case in India’s capital. The largest proportion of crimes was recorded as assault with the intent to outrage modesty of the woman, followed by rape. The cited offender in rape cases was for the majority a close known person (44·3%) or other known person (43·1%). By the end of 2018, only 9·6% of the cases had completed trials, with acquittals in 73% cases. Conclusions The wide variations in the yearly crime rates at state-level highlighted significant issues in data quality including under-reporting, non-comparability, possible bias in data reporting in NCRB, definition of rape-related crime in India, and access in reporting of crimes. Addressing barriers to reporting, improving quality and scope of administrative data recorded on sexual violence is urgently needed for India to meet SDG targets of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

Sociodemographic characteristics of women who died by suicide in India from 2014 to 2020: findings from surveillance data

“…The reasons provided in the tabulated formats in the NCRB data were not nuanced enough to offer insights that could facilitate specificity in interventions by state, age, marital status, or education. In analyses of NCRB data on domestic violence and sexual violence, 41 , 43 we demonstrated the limitations in these data in not only understanding patterns in these crimes over time, but also in understanding issues with the documentation and recording of crimes by police. Hence, more insights are needed into how the reasons for suicide deaths are recorded by the police and whether there are any influences on recording.…”

“…Even though NCRB data are a passive surveillance source for suicide deaths, efforts can be made to improve the quality of information collected by the police during their routine tasks to improve use of these data for planning action. 42 , 43 …”

The etymology of Gender Violence (SDG-5) in Anthropocene: India

“…(iii) Controlling behaviors: isolating a woman or girl child from the family, near and dear ones, objecting to legible movements, and restricting education, employment, healthcare, and the option of re-productivity, (iv). Economic violence: Restricting access to earning, money and keeping women financially dependent [42,43,44].…”

Retrospective Chart Analysis of Sexual Assault Victims Referred to Psychiatry OPD

“…There has been a significant increase of 58.7% in the number of reported rape crimes from 2001-2018 as per the data published on the National Crime Records Bureau website. 3 Sex-related offenses can be perpetrated by anyone against anyone irrespective of gender, employment status, marital status, race, ethnicity, etc., and are reported in every society. These kinds of assaults have a serious impact on both the mental as well as physical health of the victims.…”