New Delhi- The National Council of Women Leaders (NCWL) will present major research findings related to cases of sexual violence against Tribal/Adivasi women in a public webinar scheduled on July 9.
This report is grounded in a rapid survey and extensive investigations by women rights activists across 10 states: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.
Thirty-three cases of sexual violence were selected and analyzed from the years 2019 to 2024.
The panel of speakers will reflect on how duty bearers in the criminal justice system, who are meant to protect and enable easy redressal, often subvert due process by refusing to file First Information Reports (FIRs) and displaying abusive and discriminatory behavior towards victims/survivors.
In instances where police, paramilitary forces, and other personnel are responsible for sexual violence, authorities tend to protect their own rather than ensuring the safety and security of the victim/survivor and their families, hindering the pursuit of justice through due process.
The National Council of Women Leaders (NCWL) is a prominent national body representing 21 states across India, uniting over 120 women and transwomen leaders from marginalized backgrounds. Since its inception in February 2021, NCWL has been working diligently at the grassroots level to address issues affecting the rights of disadvantaged women and girls in their communities.
NCWL has created a national platform exclusively for women's rights from different marginalized groups, facilitating cooperation, collaboration, and amplifying collective solidarity and expression. The Council provides a unique space for its members to celebrate their identities, raise their voices, and champion the issues of women and girls in their communities with boldness and conviction.
On June 13, NCWL launched a groundbreaking national campaign to draw much-needed public attention to the systemic sexual violence inflicted upon Tribal/Adivasi women and girls. This violence is rooted in severe and pervasive intersectional discrimination. Survivors and the families of the victims of sexual violence from Tribal/Adivasi communities struggle to obtain justice within India’s legal system. Perpetrators of these heinous crimes often act with impunity, knowing they are unlikely to face punishment due to the lack of thorough investigation or prosecution of such cases. Police frequently refuse to register cases, coerce survivors into compromises, or falsely declare cases as unsubstantiated. Even when cases do reach the criminal courts, conviction rates remain abysmally low.
NCWL’s campaign aims to spotlight landmark cases of sexual violence against Tribal/Adivasi women and girls, spanning from 1972 to the present. These cases illustrate the long-term, deep-rooted nature of this systemic targeting. The Council will also report on the criminal justice system's response—or lack thereof—to such cases, highlighting the specific barriers that survivors and victims face in receiving justice or support.
Throughout the campaign, NCWL is hosting a series of activities to bring together women’s rights activists, allowing them to share experiences, voice concerns, and advocate for positive change. Data, visuals, and other creative tools are being used to communicate the problem to a broader audience.
Additionally, videos featuring activists working with survivors and victims’ families from Tribal/Adivasi communities are being shared to highlight the persistent sexual violence faced by women in these communities and the efforts to support victims/survivors in obtaining justice.
The research findings to be shared on July 9th are expected to provide critical insights and recommendations, drawing attention to the urgent need for systemic change in addressing sexual violence against Tribal/Adivasi women and ensuring justice for the victims.
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