Using art and artistic expression to raise police
awareness of violence against women in India

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the rate of crimes against women in India increased by 12.9% between 2018 and 2022 (NCRB). In Bihar, a state in northeastern India, 39% of married women have experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lives (NFHS-5, 2022). Bihar is also considered as one of the worst performing states in the country with high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and limited public policies to address the problem (NFHS-5, 2022).

The high prevalence and persistence of violence against women within the state police were first measured by the research team through a pilot study in 2020, which confirmed the hypothesis that police officers might have misconceptions about complaints related to this type of violence. The study also found that officers tended to investigate the victim first rather than the suspects, in an attempt to discredit them:

• 84% of senior officers said that complaints are more believable if they come accompanied.
• 46% felt that the burden of proof in cases of violence against women rested on the victim.
• 83% believed that dangerous incidents such as chain-snatching and molestation happen to women because they travel alone.

These findings motivated the project team to raise awareness among police officers about violence against women and to change their attitudes and behaviors by deconstructing stereotypes. The goal is, first, to increase the reporting of cases and, ultimately, to contribute to the reduction of violence against women in the region.

The training financed by FID is novel, in that it uses a training based on applied theatre and expressive arts to work on officers’ attitudes towards victim blaming, discrimination, or empathy, and aims to improve the experience of women victims of violence when interacting with law enforcement.

Targeting more than 4,000 officers in 419 police stations, spread across 12 districts (representing a population of over 42 million citizen), and the curriculum is delivered over 35 hours of training. It begins with police officers envisioning what an ideal society would look like, which allows them - as individuals and as a collective - to build a case to work towards during the training. Then, through interactive sessions, they explore their own perceptions and biases, and analyze how these affect their own work and professional performance, particularly in handling cases of violence against women.

As the training progresses, officers delve into the systemic issues of inequality and discrimination, examining the harmful effects of stereotypes on women in their work, and emphasizing the importance of community support for victims.

Finally, the program concludes with a commitment from police officers to adopt a victim-centered approach to cases of violence against women, the identification of concrete action points, and a renewed sense of purpose to create a safer community.

This program has been tested through an evaluation and is expected to deliver key insights on officer behavior, perceptions of women police officers, and access to justice indicators. Early results, assessed through baseline and endline surveys, reported by the research team in early 2025, showed a decrease in female officers’ anxiety, measured through their workplace environment and wellbeing in the workplace. Additionally, the vast majority of trained officers declared that the program helped them better interact with female citizens who reported to the police station. Further results are currently being analyzed and will be available in autumn 2025. By striving both to better understand the underlying causes of police attitudes and perceptions, and to act on these perceptions, this project ultimately contributes to better access to justice for women victims of violence in India.