The city is not safe for women any more, especially the younger women are at greater risk of being attacked. Recent incidents like the rape and murder of a BPO employee and the rape of a schoolgirl underline the fact, said activist Kiran Moghe. Moghe along with industrialist Anu Aga on Monday appealed to the citizens not to stigmatise the rape victims, but to fight against the scourge of rape.

A group of civic organisations including Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchyat (KKPKP), SWACH, Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana and Yuva Bharat initiated a campaign ‘Amhi Nirbhay Sabha’ at Patil Estate on Monday. The campaign will be conducted in all the slum areas in the city. 

Saying that rape is an assault on the bodies, dignity and self-esteem of women, the activists urged citizens to be part of the Nirbhay Sabha campaign to create a violence-free society, so that women can walk the city streets any time without any fear.

“The crimes are on the rise because the culprits are out there roaming about freely. Only in four per cent rape cases, the culprits get punished. To fight the ‘Gundaraj,’ we all need to join hands,” said Moghe.

Speaking on the gender equality, Anu Aga made a plea that instead of expressing grief on the birth of a girl child, we should empower them.

All the activists highlighted the society’s general reactions to such atrocities like restricting the mobility of victims, not allowing young women to work late or pulling young girls out of schools. This tendency of further victimising the victim needs to be changed, they said.

Alka Pavangadkar of Stree Mukti Sanghatana, Mohan Nanavare of KKPKP, Surekha Gade of SWACH, Vanraj Shinde of Yuva Bharat and Nakul Kate of Action for the Rights of the Child also spoke on the occasion.

VICTIM'S VICTIMISATION

Moghe said that in a recent incident, where a minor was killed after being raped, her sister faced difficulties at the school. The teachers and the classmate treated her like a culprit. The activists of Janwadi Mahila  Sanghatana interacted with the school teachers and girls about the facts and urged them to support the girl