India’s new stricter women’s protection laws

India is a place where the rights of the average citizen have often been ignored for some time.  This is especially true when it comes to minority groups or women.  But as they move toward creating a more functional and complex political system, they are making changes to bring their country up to modern standards of human rights.  In light of a few recent and highly publicized attacks on women, the Indian parliament has implemented some drastic changes to laws concerning women’s rights and protections.

The new set of laws has gone through both the lower and upper houses of parliament and now awaits the president’s final signature to make them official.  The changes implemented by the laws constitute a serious assault against sex offenders. 

Lawmakers have included more and stronger penalties against men who attack women and heavy penalties for acts such as stalking, voyeurism, exposing yourself and the associated Internet equivalents.  There is a general increase in penalties for anything considered to be a sexual offense, broadening the existing terms and definitions. 

They also added conditions to make sure that civil servants and police can be held accountable for committing a rape as well as attempting to cover one up.  But perhaps the biggest addition is that of a death penalty for those who are considered repeat offenders.

The new laws were put together after extensive research into the most successful and accepted laws around the world.  Both government officials and outside rights organizations worked to put the collection together.  Some people say that the law doesn’t go far enough, while others insist that the death penalty takes it too far.

It’s unfortunate that these sorts of laws are just now coming about and only because of the outrage expressed by the people.  After many high profile gang rapes hit the media, protests popped up all over the country.  The bill had previously been looked at and discarded on more than one occasion and only the voices of tens-of-thousands of people made it happen.

The death penalty is, to me, the most interesting thing about the new laws.  While India needs as much reform in the area of women’s rights as it can get, I wonder how effective the threat of death will be in the long run.  Do you think this is something we should add to our own laws regarding serial rapists in America?  Or is it taking things just a little too far?

Parliament of India photo courtesy of Deepak via Wikicommons