In protest of the rape and killing of a doctor in a government hospital in Kolkata last week, thousands of Indians have taken to the streets. They want improved facilities, security, and justice for hospitals and medical campuses.
The attack has drawn attention to the fact that millions of Indian women are still victims of workplace harassment and suffer significant obstacles in their pursuit of justice for sexual assault.
A 31-year-old medical student was discovered deceased in a seminar room on August 9. According to news accounts, she had taken a nap in the classroom following a demanding 36-hour stint because there was nowhere for workers to rest. Her body had several fractures and other serious injuries, which pointed to a violent attack, according to the autopsy.An arrest has been made of a guy volunteer at a hospital.
To combat violence against women and shield them from sexual harassment at work, India has passed laws like the POSH Act. After a gang rape and murder in Delhi in 2012 caused widespread demonstrations, the rules against rape and sexual abuse were reinforced.
But the government hasn't done a good job of enforcing the law or making sure that complaint committees deal with sexual harassment in both the formal and informal sectors.
Although the majority of government agencies and private sector businesses have internal complaint committees, many of them are merely paper-based. Companies don't take much action to enhance workplace culture by educating employees about sexual harassment's definition and repercussions.
Numerous demonstrators claimed that the administration of the Kolkata hospital tried to hide the crime and placed the responsibility on the victim. Concerns about the obstacles experienced by victims and their families in situations of sexual violence have been rekindled after a mob attacked the hospital to break up protests. The case is currently under investigation by federal agents.
The state chief minister of West Bengal has, in the meantime, called for the "hanging of the guilty" by August 18. The death sentence may seem like a good idea in the wake of such a horrible tragedy, but it won't save women and girls from abuse and violence. This necessitates systemic changes, such as improved law enforcement and protection of rights in public areas, workplaces, and institutions. Human Rights Watch is against the death penalty in its entirety.
In India, women and girls have the right to live freely and to work with dignity, without having to worry about their safety.