Robust legal framework and institutional support
India’s legal architecture includes the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (2013). The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (effective July 1, 2024) strengthened penalties and trial procedures for sexual offences, reflecting the government’s intent to fast-track justice.
The National Commission for Women (NCW), established in 1992, serves as the apex statutory body to protect women’s rights and processes complaints via its portal and helplines. State Commissions for Women and local support mechanisms complement its work.
Technology: reporting, tracking and response
Digital platforms have become central to reporting and case management. SHe-Box the centralised portal for workplace sexual harassment complaints streamlines filing and routes cases to the appropriate Internal or Local Committee. Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) enable monitoring and identification of repeat offenders.
To address digital abuse specifically, the NCW’s Digital Shakti initiative trains women on online safety and reporting. The government’s broader emergency response framework, including the Women Helpline (181) and the nationwide emergency number 112, ensures rapid dispatch of assistance.
Integrated schemes for survivor support
Under Mission Shakti, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has expanded One Stop Centres (OSCs) and Swadhar Greh shelters, offering integrated medical, legal and psycho-social services. The Stree Manoraksha partnership with NIMHANS trains OSC staff in psychosocial care, ensuring better mental-health support for survivors.
Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations over 14,000 operational as of early 2025 facilitate sensitive reporting and access to counselling and legal aid at the local level.
Addressing digital violence: prevention and capacity building
Technology-facilitated violence from cyberstalking and doxxing to deepfakes and coordinated online harassment requires both legal and technical responses. The government has prioritized digital literacy for women, promoted safe-use campaigns, and engaged law enforcement with specialised training to investigate cybercrime targeting women.
Digital tools also help evidence collection and case management: automatic routing of complaints, IVR-enabled helplines, WhatsApp emergency responses and centralized dashboards expedite action and oversight.
Fast-track justice and multi-agency coordination
Fast Track Special Courts under the Nirbhaya Fund have expedited trials in sexual assault and POCSO cases; over 700 such courts are operational. Crime Multi-Agency Centres (Cri-MAC) enable inter-state coordination and real-time alerts, while ITSSO tracks investigation progress to discourage undue delays.
Challenges and the road ahead
Despite progress, obstacles remain: uneven access to digital literacy, capacity gaps in local police cyber units, and challenges in policing cross-border online abuse. Experts stress stronger public–private collaboration, mandated digital platform accountability, and scaling up psychosocial services and shelter capacity.
Policy advocacy groups also call for clearer reporting mechanisms for emerging harms such as AI-generated deepfakes and organised online harassment, and for investment in survivor-centred design of reporting tools.
Conclusion: a combined legal, social and digital strategy
As India observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the government’s combined approach stronger laws, expanded helplines and shelters, digital reporting platforms, and training for first responders seeks to reduce both offline and online violence. International guidance from the UN and domestic schemes such as Mission Shakti and SHe-Box together underline a sustained commitment to safer, more inclusive public and digital spaces for women and girls.
