National Dialogue on Online Crimes Against Women

The National Dialogue on Online Crimes Against Women and Children was inaugurated in New Delhi to strengthen India’s response to cyber offences targeting vulnerable groups. The event focused on coordination among law enforcement agencies, digital platforms, ministries, academia and civil society to improve prevention, investigation and victim support. It also reflected the wider push to build a safer digital ecosystem for women and children.

Purpose of the Dialogue

The dialogue was organised by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It aimed to bring together key stakeholders to discuss emerging threats in the online space. The emphasis was on institutional capacity, faster response systems and stronger inter-agency cooperation.

Key Concerns Raised

The growing scale of cyber offences against women and children was brought into light as a major challenge in India’s expanding digital environment. Special attention was given to:

• Online harassment, exploitation and abuse.
• Delayed reporting and weak victim support systems.
• Need for stronger digital forensics and investigation tools.
• Timely removal of harmful and illegal online content.

Institutional and Legal Measures

States and Union Territories were urged to create specialised units for handling online crimes against women and children. Law enforcement agencies were asked to prioritise such cases and ensure coordinated action. Digital intermediaries were also reminded to comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and relevant rules to curb unlawful content and support lawful investigations.

Capacity Building and Training Initiative

The government also launched the Master Trainers Induction Programme for states and Union Territories. The programme will create a national pool of trained officers with specialised skills in cybercrime investigation. These officers will further train personnel at state and district levels, improving the country’s overall response to online crimes against women and children.