Why is India still one of the most dangerous places to be a woman?

More than a decade after the brutal gang-rape and murder of Jyoti Singh – Nirbhaya, “the fearless one” – millions of Indian women and girls continue to live with fear instead of freedom. Her mother’s words still echo around the world:

“My daughter opened the eyes of the world, but India has yet to open its heart.”

Violence against women in India remains widespread and horrifyingly normalised: rape, domestic abuse, dowry killings, honour crimes, trafficking, sexual violence, and even the erasure of girls at birth.

A BBC World Service investigation revealed midwives in Bihar admitting on camera that baby girls were routinely killed. As one chilling line from the documentary put it:

“A girl child is born unwanted, and sometimes she is not allowed to live at all.”

This is not just a women’s-rights crisis. It is a democratic crisis.
No country can call itself a democracy if half its citizens are not safe.

During the 16 Days of Activism, we are calling on the UK to honour its commitment to champion democracy, human rights, and women’s equality worldwide. As the UK deepens ties with India through new agreements, including the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, we must ensure these partnerships do not further endanger women and girls already living at risk.

We call on the UK Government to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of all new and existing agreements with India
2. Ensure none undermine the rights or safety of women and girls
3. Align UK foreign policy with its global commitment to end violence against women
    
   Stand with Nirbhaya. Stand with India’s daughters.
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