Trigger Warning: Gender Based Violence

A 16 year old girl was brutally stabbed to death by a 20 year old man in public, in Delhi’s Shahbad, last Sunday. The CCTV footage, which has now gone viral, is a horrifying reminder of the fact that Delhi is unsafe for women, and if violence against women was to occur in a public place, very few would choose to intervene. Several people walked by as the girl was being attacked. Some looked away, while others paused to turn back. No one intervened. 

The lack of positive action from bystanders cannot just be because they don’t care. Not knowing how to help while keeping oneself safe, fear of getting stuck in difficult situations, police station visits, legal process etc. is stopping people from speaking up to stop the violence. Citizens must be supported to move past these deterrents. We must shift from apathy to empathy. 

The #DakhalDo campaign by Breakthrough India has been running for 2 years and it remains as relevant, if not more, even today. I am petitioning the Government of Delhi to include violence against women in the Farishte Dilli Ke scheme which encourages positive bystander action by rewarding Good Samaritans and providing an enabling environment for them. 

What happened in Delhi this week, must never happen again. Join me by sharing this petition ahead to help make our Dilli safer for its women. 

With gratitude,
Richa