But the new law has also provoked questions about how it will be applied, whether it can effectively protect women from sexual exploitation and whether it risks criminalizing break-ups.
Audrey Dmello, director of Majlis Law, a women’s rights NGO in India, supports the new law.
She argues “promise to marry” rape cases are under-reported and needed to be tackled through legislation.
“Having such a law gives women validity as to what happened to them,” she told CNN.
Potential concernsThe new law distinguishes “promise to marry” cases from rape – but some lawyers say the parameters are still vague.
Persons:
Narendra Modi’s, Audrey Dmello, “, ”, Burhaan Kinu, he’d, Tanvir Siddiki, ’, Gopal Krishna, Siddiki, Durjoy Biswas, Vanshika Bhattad
Organizations:
CNN, Hindustan Times, “
Locations:
India, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Varanasi, “, Mumbai, Kolkata, West Bengal, Delhi