The Aug. 9 rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor in a government-run hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, has raised alarms about sexual violence against women in India and sparked a string of nation-wide protests.
On the eve of India’s 78th year of Independence from British occupation, protesters of sexual violence against women and girls are asking questions about whether India belongs to its women as much as its men.
While the Indian constitution guarantees fundamental and equal rights to women, especially Articles 14 and 21, the cultural and social aspects of Indian life tell a different story. Indian women are subjected to a culture of silencing and victim-blaming. This culture makes it difficult for victims and survivors of sexual abuse to access legal aid and social support.
