Shafaqna English- Recent cases of alleged sexual violence in India renewed calls for authorities and society to address the behaviour of perpetrators rather than restricting women’s movements and access to public spaces.
Two cases last week drew widespread attention. In Bihar’s Jamui district, a video showing men accused of harassing and molesting two teenage girls went viral. In Delhi, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped in a park by men posing as police officers.
The incidents were followed by restrictions on women’s access to public spaces. Delhi limited access to some parks, while Lady Shri Ram College briefly moved classes online. Women in Bihar also reported increased restrictions after the Jamui case.
Feminist activists criticised the pattern of telling women to avoid certain places, change how they dress or return home earlier after sexual violence. Author Meena Kandasamy argued that such measures were easier than addressing the causes of the violence.
Political responses also drew criticism. A Bihar minister stressed that “moral policing” could be done in a more “decent and elegant” way, while another called the Jamui case an “isolated” incident.
The debate has also highlighted the scale of harassment in public spaces. A recent survey of more than 4,000 women in New Delhi and Bengaluru found that 65% of women surveyed in New Delhi and 29% in Bengaluru had experienced harassment in public spaces over the previous year.
Students in Delhi have responded by demanding safer public spaces rather than restrictions on women’s movement.
Vedayana, a 20-year-old student at Lady Shri Ram College, argued that restricting access to parks was not a solution.
“If you are not putting up safety measures to make it accessible to women, then it is as good as saying that the park is only for men.”
Activists have called for longer-term changes, including addressing patriarchal attitudes and how boys are raised. Students have also urged political parties not to give tickets or positions to people accused of sexual harassment and called on political leaders to speak out against rape culture.
Source: Guardian