A Doctor’s Rape and Murder Case Triggered Nationwide Anger in India, Cease Sexual Violence From Its Roots

Sexual violence cases have been reported in India on a near daily basis. Recently, a horrific rape and murder case occurred in Kolkata, a large city in north-eastern India. A 31-year-old trainee doctor was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered by a police volunteer while she was at work in the hospital. The incident has fuelled nationwide anger and triggered a large-scale strike. More than 300,000 doctors and women took to the streets to protest, demanding justice and addressing the daily struggles faced by many women.

Rampant Sexual Violence Crimes Make Girls Scared Of Every Step Of Their Way

According to data from India’s National Crime Records Bureau, in 2022, there were 450,000 crimes against women, including stalking, sexual harassment, sexual assault and other sexual violence incidents that occurred in public transportation, public places areas and workplaces. An average of 90 sexual assault cases were reported every day.

“Hey beauty, where are you going?”, “Look! That girl has a nice body!” These uncomfortable remarks are often heard on the streets and public transportation in India. Such remarks, a malicious gaze or a physical touch without consent cause women to live in fear of becoming the victim of sexual violence. “Being harassed and teased by strangers is almost our daily lives. We feel extremely frightened when we go out alone,” shared Gargi, an Indian girl.

Eliminate Gender Inequality and Educate Young People To Say No To Sexual Harassment

To secure girls’ rights in the city, Plan International has been implementing the “Building a Safer City for Girls” project in New Delhi, India, as an entry point since 2022. Through community education, advocacy, and empowering youth, we strengthen the awareness of gender equality in the community and build a safer community so that girls can be free from danger in walking around the neighbourhood alone.

Sexual violence stems from traditional cultures that perceive male superiority. To dispel this concept, we are committed to organising youth groups and engaging young people aged 13 to 18 to strengthen the awareness of gender equality in the community and empower them with leadership training. We also launched an innovative “Safety Assessment” application to allow them to review potential risks for women in the community, including unlawful practices like gambling in parks, lack of street lights and CCTV surveillance systems, etc., to express their opinions to government departments and advocate for strengthening measures and policies to protect women from sexual violence.

“I didn’t dare to speak out when I was harassed. But now I know very well that if I encounter the same situation, I must stop it loudly. We should not tolerate any form of sexual violence!” Gargi, who participated in the youth group, shared.	“Before participating in the project, we used to tease girls on the street, but now we learned to respect girls and treat them as our sisters. I hope I can be a better person.” Karan, who participated in the youth group, reflected.

Empowering Girls To Defend Their Rights And Promote Changes

Plan International believes that young people and girls have the power to challenge the entrenched gender inequality, and we are committed to empowering them to voice out for girls’ rights and contribute to changes. Sanjana, who is 16 years old, participated in the project and learned to defend her rights. A pivotal moment unfolded when Sanjana’s parents intended to withdraw her from the coaching institute, citing the need to support her brother. Undeterred, she expressed her determination to continue her studies. She has also become a “Champion of Change” and an outstanding leader of the youth group, organising a digital safety walk by using the “Safety Assessment” application launched by Plan International. The group explored the safety black spots of three parks in the community and proposed to government officials to install additional street lights and closed-circuit television surveillance systems on the streets to ensure the safety of girls. At the same time, Sanjana also completed a self-defense course provided by Plan International and the New Delhi Police and passed the techniques to other girls.

“I found my voice by engaging in discussions, activities, and meetings. I am dedicated to supporting the well-being of girls like me. I want to empower them as I have been empowered.” Sanjana shared.

Plan International launched a “Safety Assessment” application that allows youth groups to review the safety of public places in the community through different indicators, such as whether there are enough street lights and CCTV cameras.

The implementation of the project has achieved remarkable results. Through different activities, we raised awareness of girls’ safety and gender equality among more than 5,225 people, including teachers, public transportation workers, and community members. To eliminate sexual violence in the long term, we will continue to work with girls, youth, parents, and government authorities to promote girls’ safety in public spaces and enable girls to enjoy the freedom to learn and grow up healthily in a safe community environment.

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