| make delhi safe for women campaign |
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| Campaign Activities |
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| Perception and Experience of Gendered Violations in Public Places in the City of Delhi |
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| Given the fact that women rarely complain about instances of harassment in public spaces, there was a critical need to generate some data on which to base the organization’s assumptions. CEQUIN in partnership with Center for Media Studies (CMS) undertook a baseline survey entitled “Perception and Experience of Gendered Violations in Public Places in the City of Delhi.” The attempt was to have a detailed analysis of the nature and dimensions of gendered violence in public spaces in the capital. The study threw up some startling findings. |
- 97% of women respondents in Delhi were of the opinion that sexual harassment of women in Delhi is
fairly common.
- 82% of women felt that bus is the most unsafe mode of transport in Delhi.
- 88% of women felt that when a women is harassed in a public place she rarely or never gets any help
from the public
- Women’s vulnerability to harassment in public spaces crosscuts age, marital status and economic strata.
- Women are vulnerable in crowded as well as lonely spaces, during the day as well as in the night.
- Harassment in public spaces has a hugely negative impact on women’s mobility and access.
- Deviant male behavior arises from flawed notions of ‘masculinity’.
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| This first of its kind study was made possible by the support of RC Foundation The finding from the study was released at a Press Conference with support from Latit Hotels and Perfect Relations, in November 2009. The guest of honour was cricketer Virendra Sehwag, who is the goodwill ambassador for CEQUIN, and whose IPL team Delhi Daredevils is the face of the ‘Make Delhi Safe for Women’ social campaign. |
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| The study release received huge media attention and was carried in 17 leading national and region dailies and 9 TV channels. The study has received exceptional online coverage too with 31 websites featuring the launch. Having received a tremendous response to the study, which was discussed and deliberated by experts and others, CEQUIN has been successful in creating a meaningful public debate on the issue. On 15th December, 2009, the details of the survey conducted by CEQUIN, was discussed in Parliament. The Home Minister P Chidambaram responded to the question raised. Issues of harassment and assault, which are often ignored as ‘non serious’ offences have for the first time engaged our highest policy makers. |
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| Following the findings of the Survey, CEQUIN has had series of consultations with the Lieutenant Governor Tejender Khanna, Commissioner of Police Mr Dadwal and Joint Commissioner Sudhir Yadav, Crime against Women Cell. The Delhi Police has expressed its firm commitment to raise the number of women in the police force and have a targeted approach to address harassment of women in public. |
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