CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PUNISHMENT FRAMEWORKS IN SELECTED COUNTRIES

AUTHOR – MS. J. SHARBEL* & MS. T. VAISHALI**

* STUDENT AT TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI

BEST CITATION – MS. J. SHARBEL & MS. T. VAISHALI, CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PUNISHMENT FRAMEWORKS IN SELECTED COUNTRIES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 922-936, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT:

Crimes against women and children continue to occur, threatening basic human rights worldwide and causing significant challenges for criminal justice systems. In India, issues like sexual violence, domestic abuse, child trafficking, and child exploitation are still common, despite the introduction of many special laws and changes to the criminal code. This study examines how effective these laws are at preventing crime, ensuring punishments match the offenses, and protecting victims. It compares India’s legal system with those of several other countries to see how they tackle these crimes. The research combines legal principles with comparisons of different legal systems. It reviews Indian laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act of 2012, in relation to laws from the United States, the United Kingdom, and some European nations. The analysis focuses on how sentences are determined, whether minimum punishments are applied, and how justice systems balance punishment with the opportunity for offenders to reform. The study also looks at how international agreements like the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) impact national laws. It highlights problems such as inconsistent sentencing, slow court processes, low crime reporting rates, and insufficient support for victims. The research argues that while harsh punishments are essential to address these serious crimes, their success hinges on effective enforcement, the efficiency of the legal process, and the level of support provided to victims. To achieve true justice for women and children, the study recommends establishing uniform punishment guidelines, strengthening support systems within the legal framework, and developing a strategy that combines deterrence, accountability, and efforts to help offenders change.