Nagpur: India remains among the 30-odd nations where marital rape is still not criminalized. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday delivered a split verdict on the issue.
According to a UN Women report, most of these 34 countries were ‘developing nations’ which included Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Botswana etc. As per the lastest fifth round of the National Family Health survey (NHFS-5), 32 per cent of women in India who have ever been married have experienced spousal physical, sexual or emotional violence.
It also further revealed that 25 per cent of married women in the age group of 18-49 years who have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence report having physical injuries, including seven per cent who have had eye injuries, sprains, dislocations, or burns and 6 per cent who have had deep wounds, broken bones, broken teeth, or any other serious injury.
Unfortunately, India is one of the countries which continues to adhere to the old-fashioned laws where unwilling sexual contact or involvement without a consent between a husband and a wife is not recognized as a criminal offence.
