Women's safety in Kerala ends up as a joke; Thiruvananthapuram no safe place for children

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Violence against women is on the rise in Kerala, despite continuing debates and awareness programs across the state. Out of all the cases registered in 2024, the highest number of cases were regarding attacks faced by women. The trend has shown a spike after 2021. 2024 saw the highest number of such incidents getting reported, including rape cases.

According to the UN report, a woman is assaulted every minute in the world. 736 million women are victims of physical and psychological violence. According to the World Health Organization, 30 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 face mental and physical violence.

2021................................... 16,199,

2022...................................18,943,

2023................................... 18,980

2024...................................17,152

The rape case is also up

2024...................................2636

2023................................... 2562

2022...................................2518

2021...................................2339

2020...................................1880

2019...................................2023

2018...................................2005

2017...................................2003

2016...................................1656

22 children were murdered in 2024. There is no significant decrease in other violence against children in Kerala. 4727 cases including POCSO, child marriage and kidnapping were registered. Thiruvananthapuram district has the highest number of POCSO cases with 541 cases in 2024.