Gender-Based Violence and the Right to Life of Women: Legal Protection, Gaps & Pathways to Effective Implementation

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human-rights violations worldwide and directly undermines women’s right to life, dignity, and personal liberty. This paper examines the Indian legal framework protecting women (constitutional guarantees and statutory law), summarizes recent empirical data on the prevalence and nature of GBV, analyses legal and institutional gaps that hinder effective protection, and proposes practical pathways for improved implementation. A case study of Madhya Pradesh (2023) illustrates how national-level trends translate into state-level realities and highlights implementation failures and opportunities. The discussion concludes with multi-level recommendations—legal, institutional, socio-economic, and community-based—aimed at making Article 21 protections meaningful on the ground.