Shocking rape statistics haunt Indian women

India’s Supreme Court has made a landmark ruling that rape includes marital rape, and extended abortion rights to 24 weeks.

This essentially means that all women, regardless of their marital status, have the right to an abortion up until 24 weeks.

Previous data shows nearly one-third of married women in India aged 15 to 49 had experienced some form of sexual violence from their husbands.

This figure is likely to be much higher in reality but many women were reluctant to disclose such experiences because of a lack of legal rights protecting them.

The new ruling could help change that.

This is a big step forward for the country, where many women and girls are exposed to sexual assault.