Dalit Women Speak Out: Violence against Dalit Women in India (2006) Five hundred Dalit women across the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh in India were visited in 2004, and questionnaires and in-depth interviews conducted by Dalit women field investigators to bring out the voices of rural and urban Dalit women regarding their experiences of violence in both the general community and in the family.
The focus of the advocacy research study was on the forms, manifestations and frequency of violence occurring during the period 1999 to 2004, the perpetrators, causal factors as well as effects of violence, and responses by state and non-state actors to this violence. Concurrently, the study examined Dalit women's assertions, courage and resilience to survive violence and their struggles for justice through available remedial mechanisms. The results were startling in exposing a culture of violence, silence and impunity for violence against Dalit women in contravention of national laws and international human rights standards. This study report presents an analytical overview of the complexities of systemic violence and human rights violations that Dalit women face in India today through qualitative and quantitative data analysis of the five hundred Dalit women's narratives of violence, with excerpts of the Dalit women's narratives included throughout the study report. As such, the aim is to articulate Dalit women's perspective on violence and how it impinges on their lives. The 600-page report is divided into several sections: Introduction, presenting the overall situation of Dalit women in India today vis-à-vis their right to security of life (freedom from violence) and right to development, based on the limited government and non-government data available PART I FRAMEWORK & METHODOLOGY Chapter 1: Conceptual Framework for Intersectional Caste-Class-Gender Violence against Dalit Women Chapter 2: Legal Framework of National and International Laws on Violence against Women Chapter 3: Study Objectives, Scope, Purpose and Methodology PART II BACKGROUND OF DALIT WOMEN Chapter 4: Profile of the Five Hundred Dalit Women Chapter 5: The Social Context of Dalit Women PART III DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF FORMS OF VIOLENCE Chapter 6: Forms and Causes of Violence against Dalit Women: An Overview Violence in the General Community: Chapter 7: Verbal Abuse -- patterns of abuse, threats and sexual harassment, Dalit women's responses, quantitative data tables, and analysis of why verbal abuse is so significant and the competing discourses Chapter 8: Physical Assault -- manifestations and types of physical assaults, causal factors, vulnerability factors, Dalit women's assertions, courage and resilience, quantitative data tables, and analysis of physical assault in terms of conflicts of interests and inequality Chapter 9: Sexual Violence: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Rape, Sexual Exploitation and Forced Prostitution -- forms and manifestations of sexual violence, causal factors, vulnerability factors, Dalit women's assertions, courage and resilience, quantitative data tables, and analysis of sexual violence in terms of its perceived power and functions and the duality of control over women's sexuality and sexual violence against Dalit women Chapter 10: Kidnapping or Abduction and Forced Incarceration -- means and methods of kidnappings/abductions and forced incarcerations, causal factors, vulnerability factors, Dalit women's assertions, courage and resilience, quantitative data tables, and analysis of kidnappings/abductions and forced incarcerations in terms of violation of Dalit women's freedom rights and the significance of denying Dalit women freedom of movement Chapter 11: Medical Negligence -- manifestations of medical negligence in both government and private hospitals and medical centres, causal factors, vulnerability factors, Dalit women's courage and resilience, quantitative data tables, and analysis of medical negligence in terms of long-term implications for enjoyment of the right to health Violence in the Family: Chapter 12: Female Foeticide and Infanticide, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence -- forms and manifestations of violence in the family, causal factors for violence from natal family and from marital family, vulnerability factors, Dalit women's assertions, courage and resilience, quantitative data tables, and analysis of violence in the family in terms of gender subordination and caste patriarchy, and the right to privacy in the family versus women's right to security of life PART IV EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE Chapter 13: Effects of Violence against Dalit Women: An Overview -- physical, psychological and social effects of violence on Dalit women PART V SEEKING JUSTICE AFTER VIOLENCE Chapter 14: Responses to Violence against Dalit Women: An Overview -- patterns of women unable to seek legal remedies, women who were blocked at community level from accessing legal remedies, women who received some form of informal justice, women who were blocked by police from accessing legal remedies, women who sought legal remedies and police processes are underway, and those cases (less than 1%) which have reached court judgments; and analysis of these responses in terms of patterns of unequal power structures, differential responses by state and non-state actors, and responses of Dalit women, and the key issue of state and caste impunity and its implications for Dalit women PART VI FUTURE TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Chapter 15: Concluding Observations and Recommendations -- addressed to the Government of India, Indian Civil Society Groups, and the International Community Given the current dearth of research into most aspects of Dalit women's rights, this advocacy research study is expected to be utilised by Dalit movements, women's movements, organisations working with Dalits and women, and various human rights organisations across the country to lobby the Government of India to fulfil its obligation to act with due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence against Dalit women occurring in both public and private life, at the hands of state or non-state actors. In addition, the study reinforces calls for comprehensive preventive measures to be put in place to eradicate caste discrimination and violence against Dalit women, in conjunction with measures to fulfil Dalit women's human rights including their right to development. The study is also a resource for individuals and institutions interested in Dalit women, women's and gender studies, caste, violence, India and human rights. Publishers: National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, National Federation of Dalit Women & Institute of Development Education, Action and Studies Authors: Aloysius Irudayam S.J. is an experienced grassroots activist and a trainer on social issues. He has co-authored several advocacy publications which have been used for national and international advocacy and lobbying purposes - Black Paper - Promises Broken and Dalits Betrayed, Atrocities against Dalits in India Vol. I and Adivasis Speak Out: Atrocities against Adivasis in Tamil Nadu. Keenly interested in the promotion of human rights culture, he has co-authored human rights education textbooks for school and college students. Having held several important administrative positions, he is at present the Programme Director of the Research, Advocacy and Human Rights Education Department in IDEAS, Madurai, India. Jayshree Mangubhai is a lawyer activist working in the field of human rights documentation and research in India, focusing on rights advocacy for Adivasi and Dalit communities, and women in particular. She has co-authored several advocacy publications, including Atrocities against Dalits in India Vol. I and Adivasis Speak Out: Atrocities against Adivasis in Tamil Nadu, as well as authored an advocacy research publication on Dalit livelihood rights entitled New Economic Reforms, Hope or Mirage?. She holds a Masters degree in Human Rights and has been working as Research and Human Rights Associate in IDEAS, Madurai, India. Joel Lee previously worked as a researcher in the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi, where he co-authored with Professor Sukhdeo Thorat a study on Caste Discrimination and Food Security Programmes. He has also worked with Sakshi-Human Rights Watch, Andhra Pradesh and the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights. As a Fulbright fellow in 2005-06, he studied socially-oriented street theatre with performers in north India. Currently he is pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University in New York. Requested contribution: Within India: Rs.550/- (Rs.500/- + Rs.50/- packing and courier charge per book) Please send DD in favour of: Madurai Jesuit Social Education Trust Payable at: Madurai Copies available with: Ms Jeno M., Secretary, IDEAS 26A Valaithoppu, Chinthamani Road Madurai - 625 001 Tamil Nadu Ph: 0452 - 2337 968 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
