A series of rapes has sparked mass protests at Indian universities, with hundreds of women marching through Delhi chanting 'We want justice' and demanding real consequences for perpetrators of sexual violence.
Key facts
- Hundreds of women marched from a university campus into the streets of Delhi in protest.
- Protesters chanted 'We want justice' and carried pointed placards demanding consequences for rapists.
- Women say nothing has changed since Delhi's infamous Nirbhaya bus rape case 14 years ago.
- Protesters describe sexual harassment, assault, catcalling and molestation as a constant, daily threat.
A series of rapes has triggered mass protests at Indian universities, with hundreds of women taking to the streets of Delhi to demand justice and meaningful action against sexual violence, according to the Guardian.
The demonstrators marched from the gates of their university campus into the streets of the capital, holding placards that made their anger plain. One read, “Girls don’t need curfews, rapists need consequences.” Another read, “Lock your dicks rather than your women at home.”
As they marched, the women shouted together in what the Guardian described as a chorus of rage and defiance, chanting “We want justice.” The city they marched through is one where, according to the report, sexual harassment, assault, catcalling and molestation remain a constant, daily threat.
At the heart of the protests is a sense that little has improved for women’s safety in the years since one of India’s most notorious cases of sexual violence. Women say nothing has changed since Delhi’s infamous Nirbhaya bus rape case 14 years ago.
The protests reflect ongoing frustration over the persistence of violence against women and the demand for stronger accountability for perpetrators rather than restrictions placed on women themselves.
Why it matters
The protests highlight continued public anger over sexual violence in India more than a decade after the Nirbhaya case galvanised national attention. The demonstrations underscore demands that authorities focus on holding perpetrators accountable rather than restricting women's freedoms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the protests about?
The protests were triggered by a series of rapes, with women at Indian universities demanding justice and real consequences for perpetrators of sexual violence.
What is the Nirbhaya case protesters are referencing?
Protesters refer to Delhi's infamous Nirbhaya bus rape case from 14 years ago, saying nothing has changed since then, according to the Guardian.
What are protesters demanding?
Protesters are calling for consequences for rapists rather than curfews or restrictions on women, chanting 'We want justice' as they march.