12 years ago, the brutal gang-rape of a young woman, later named Nirbhaya (the fearless one) by the media, sent shockwaves across India and sparked widespread protests, calling for justice and systemic reform. The horrific gang rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern on the night of December 16, 2012 which left the young woman fighting for her life until her death on December 29, spurred nationwide protests and led to significant legal amendments aimed at protecting women. A decade later, the haunting question persists: Has anything truly changed for the safety of women in the nation? As India marks a decade of Nirbhaya’s legacy, the question remains: Have lessons been learnt, or has the fight for women’s safety just begun?
Nothing has changed in the last 12 years. Governments have come and gone, but the situation remains the same. Women are still unsafe in this country. We collect crime data, but where is the data on how many perpetrators are punished? When it comes to women’s safety, we are still stuck in 2012, or worse, the situation has deteriorated. What decisions have been made in Parliament regarding women’s safety over the past 12 years? Corrupt leaders and people accused of crimes are now politicians. How can such people provide security to women? When will the government hold them accountable?
The grim reality is that after more than a decade, Delhi remains a dangerous place for women. As of August 31, 2023, the city recorded 2,751 crimes against women, including 1,393 rapes, 1,354 sexual assaults, and three cases of rape followed by murder. These numbers paint a stark picture of a city still struggling with the safety of its female residents. Since 2022, Delhi has averaged five rapes per day, and a shocking 11 crimes against women occur daily on average. One recent tragedy in the country is the brutal rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata during her shift at a medical college. This horrific incident reignited public outrage and underscored the ongoing danger women face in every corner of the country.
Women are still unsafe. They live in constant fear. Parents worry when their daughters are out. Women in schools and workplaces feel unsafe. In response to the public outcry, several states have established fast-track courts for sexual crime cases, one-stop centres for survivors, and specialised legal aid and rehabilitation services. Various government initiatives have been launched such as the establishment of the Women Safety Division in May 2018, the creation of the Nirbhaya Fund, and the launch of systems like the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and the Emergency Response Support System. However, these measures have not been enough to stop the daily violence against women.
