the goan I network
PANAJI
In a bid to raise awareness against sexual crime against women and children in the country, a group of NGOs under the banner Rastriya Garima Abhiyan launched a ‘Dignity March’ from Mumbai on December 20 and reached Goa on Sunday.
Over 5,000 survivors of sexual violence from across the country have embarked on this 65-day-long ‘Dignity March’ which kicked off in Mumbai on December 20 and will culminate in New Delhi on February 22, 2019.
It will cover 200 districts across 24 States and Union Territories, traversing over 10,000 kms.
As per the national crime registry bureau statistics, crime against women spiked 83 percent in 2017 (1,85,312) as compared to 2016 (3,38,954).
In Goa too, there is a rise in crime against women by 85.5 percent. In 2017 Goa reported 371 crimes against women and the figure was 200 in 2016
The Abhiyan’s convener Ashif Sheikh said, over 5,000 survivors of sexual assault will highlight their plight through this unique and first of its kind march.
In most cases of sexual violence, the survivors are held responsible, blamed and stigmatized. “The march aims at end the shaming and stigmatization of survivors of rape and sexual violence. The survivors, along with their families and other social actors will create a national survivor network to ensure their participation in framing of policies and implementation of laws and guidelines against sexual violence,” he said.
Activist and gang-rape survivor Bhanwari Devi, Fr Savio Fernandes and ARZ convenor Arun Pandey were present at the press conference at Azad Maidan. “By organising and taking part in this march, we want to show a mirror to all governments that nothing has changed and if victims like us dare to protest against sexual violence, we still have to go through several ordeals. We want each and every rapist to be put behind bars and survivors should hold their heads high,” Bhanwari Devi said.
