Delhi to join nationwide protest #IWillGoOut for women’s safety

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Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Jan 20: In order to draw the attention of authorities and people towards the increase in sexual assaults on women, particularly in the backdrop of the New Year eve incident in Bengaluru, a nationwide protest named #IWillGoOut is going to be organized on 21st January in 21 cities across the country. Delhi and its Dwarka area, which has witnessed several such attacks on women in the past, will also join the nationwide protest.

The #IWillGoOut campaign that started on Facebook after multiple incidents of molestations in Bengaluru on New Year’s eve has now grown into a national movement. It is aimed at increasing consciousness on violence against women and making the state and cultural institutions more accountable and responsible towards women’s safety.

This is perhaps first time that a protest to resist sexual violence against women will be held in 21 cities across the country on the same day.

Besides the national capital, the event will take place in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Thrissur, Silchur, Ranchi, Puducherry, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Karimganj, Kangra, Chandigarh and Gurgaon in solidarity with the survivors of the Bengaluru sexual assault.

In Delhi, there will be two events. The Delhi chapter of #IWillGoOut movement will organize a march from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar at 5 pm on 21st January. Various citizen groups in Dwarka, under the banner of and second by #IWillGoOut_Dwarka, will organize a three-hour (from 9PM to 12 midnight) gathering in the heart of the sub city. The event will be organized jointly by 16 organizations based in Dwarka.

“Since this is the fight of women’s existence and this fight should not just be limited to a protest, we will need to start it from our home. In Technology we are going ahead but in thinking we are moving towards stereotype. So, through this program we want to get society become sensitive,” Madhuri Varshney, president of Dwarka Forum said while briefing the media about the program at the Indian Women’s Press Club (IWPC) in New Delhi on Thursday.

Giving details about the Dwarka event, she said: “Many residents in Dwarka have started uploading their video clips with their messages on the Facebook page #IWillGoOut_Dwarka. Many of these clips will also be screened at the event.”

With a rich diversity of people’s participation, the event will feature old and new generation activists, feminists, media, bloggers, artists, academics, teachers, men, women, boys and girls of all ages.

While addressing the media, eminent human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi said, “This is the first time in the city that 16 organisations which never work for gender issues are coming up as now they are realizing the violence against women is increasing day by day.”

The organizations include Sahaj Sambhav, Age Well Holistic Care, Choti Si Khushi, Dwarka Collective, Dwarka Forum, Dwarka Parent’s Association, Federation of CGHS Dwarka Ltd, Helping Human, Janasamskriti, Mission Clean & Safe Dwarka, Pahal, Sahas and Setu.

“Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal and women activist Jagmati Sangwan will join us at the event,” she informed.

The press conference was also addressed by Ritu Khulbe, AK Parashar, Sudha Sinha, Shameera Ashroff, Leena Dabiru, who are the residents of Dwarka working on various issues.

“Parents have to play a vital role in bringing up their children. I think a girl needs more education. The participation of men is equally essential. It is shameful that ladies are compelled to do such programs again and again,” Ritu Khulbe from Sahaj Sambhav NGO said while speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net on increasing cases of sexual assault against women.

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