Existence and quality of state laws and policies that criminalizes GBV, with regular reviews to remove provisions that inadvertently perpetuate GBV, while addressing harmful customary norms and socio-cultural practices that enable GBV.

Easy, timely, and equitable access to legal justice through effective reporting, prosecution, and enforcement processes that are free from discrimination and bureaucracy. It entails the existence of specialized GBV courts with trained officials, designated judges, accessible legal aid, effective witness protection, enforcement of court judgments, and the regular publication of a Sex Offenders’ Register. The index also examines community-level informal justice systems, evaluating their overall effectiveness and alignment with justice principles.

Availability of comprehensive support services—medical, mental health, legal, economic—for all GBV survivors, provided through state-run Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and/or shelters that are governed by Standard Operating Procedures, including being accessible across the state and proportionate to the state’s population. The index also assesses the presence of user-friendly, subnational-level Reporting and Referral Pathways, including strengthening of informal support networks.

Regular provision and wide dissemination of clear, user-friendly, and equally accessible information, education, and communication (IEC) materials about GBV. It also assesses the availability and usage of a comprehensive sex education curriculum in schools in the state.

Specific budget lines and allocation to address GBV by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs, including actual release and spend as a percentage of the state’s female population.