The National Capital Region has become a hub for rapes and sexual assaults - it’s high time the police woke up and made public spaces safe for women.

The recent expose by Tehelka shows that many cops think that it is okay to judge the victims of rape and blame them rather than dealing with the crime.

To make Delhi/NCR safe for women, Sign this petition and ask the Police Commissioners of Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida to take the following steps:

1. Police and Government Sensitivity: State agencies should stop 'blaming the victim'and shift the responsibility onto the state agencies mandated to protect women’s rights. They should refrain at all times from making any gender-insensitive statements and character assault of women. Strict actions should be taken against such statements be made in the public sphere. We demand respect and dignity of all women.

2. Monitoring: CCTV’s in rape prone areas in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon.

3. Increase in deployment of police: Immediate and sustainable preventive mechanisms should be designed and adopted in the National Capital Territory Region, which can act as a deterrent to future such incidents. This should also include, increasing the frequency of the patrolling of the PCR vans and increased traffic vigilance in all areas

4. Sexual assault prevention and redressal policy: The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for sexual assault cases should be drafted with immediate effect and ensure that support from relevant other service providers (government & non-government) be effectively implemented in every case thereon. The SOPs should also ensure strict adherence for procedures to be followed and address any violations with strict actions thereon. Immediate actions against relevant police personnel on dereliction of duty should be made mandatory. Fast Track Courts on cases of Sexual Assault for immediate redressal and effective justice delivery to be ensured.

5. Women’s helplines: Emergency numbers like 1091 should be monitored by women - which makes it easier for the victim to explain her problem/situation. Victim’s privacy should be respected.These numbers should be advertised through posters and billboards in all three cities.

6. Workplace safety: The Government must ensure procedures for accountability in all workplace to follow strict safety mechanism in reference to Vishakha Guidelines.

7. Awareness: The state needs to campaign against sexual harassment - public messaging on women’s rights, shift male perspective of women, display hotlines and safety procedures all over the city.

Recent cases of atrocities against women:

March 13, 2012 : Sahara Mall, Gurgaon - 23 year old woman was gang-raped by seven men. The police helpline 100 received a call from the brother of the victim reporting a case of abduction and fearing sexual assault. The police traced the cell phone. They called on it and answered by one of the abductors who also said the woman was with them and that they were dropping her back home. The police did not see the need to further follow up on the case of reported abduction and take immediate action which could have prevented the heinous crime from happening. Instead, the state administration issued a statement by Deputy Commissioner, P.C.Meena, which was later retracted on March 15, 2012.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gurgaon-rape-police-is-not-effective-say-residents/239231-3.html

March 24, 2012: Two minor Girls raped in N East Delhi, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Two-minor-girls-raped-in-east-Delhi/articleshow/12397476.cms

February 27, 2012: 17 year old Noida Ganga Rape victim becomes reclusive and skips school exams after cops release her name to the media - no action has been taken on the cops yet:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Noida-rape-victim-becomes-a-recluse-skips-board-exams/Article1-827949.aspx

#RapeFreeDelhi campaign in the press:

CNN IBN featured the campaign on their Citizen Journalist show: http://cj.ibnlive.in.com/newcj/fullflvvideo_cj_new_ibn.php?id=246746

There are many rape and sexual assault cases which rock the city every week - it is high time that Delhi and its surrounding areas introduce practices & policies which can make the National Capital Region a safer place for women to travel, work and live in.