Britannia Radio

Grief and fury

 

After the death of a 23-year-old student who was gang-raped and beaten, Namita is asking the Indian government to take action to stop this happening again. Sign Namita's Petition Trigger warning: this email contains information about sexual assault that may be triggering to survivors. Margaret - She was 23, with dreams of being a doctor but two weeks ago, she was gang raped by six men, savagely beaten and thrown out of a moving bus in Delhi. This week, the still unnamed woman who has become “India’s daughter”, died of her injuries in hospital.  Namita Bhandare knows the constant fear that goes with living in Delhi, nicknamed India’s “rape capital”. Like others, she long believed that nothing would change. But the outpouring of anger and sadness now has convinced her that this could be a turning point for women like her. The tragedy has sparked vigils and protests, and over 100,000 Indians have already signed Namita's petition to the Prime Minister. As the story reverberates around the world, being covered by every major news outlet, there's a chance for people in the UK to stand alongside women in India and help show the Indian Prime Minister that his international reputation is on the line if the Government fails to act. Click here to sign Namita’s petition asking the Indian government to actively prosecute rape cases, introduce compulsory sensitivity training for police, and pass two proposed laws to protect women. The story of “India’s daughter” has sparked deep grief and fury across India. Grief for her horrifying ordeal, and fury that politicians have ignored the huge problem of rape and sexual violence against women for so long.  According to crime statistics, a woman is raped every 22 minutes, and most rapists are never prosecuted. Women are often blamed for their own rapes, police refuse to hear reports from victims, and some women report being harassed by the very authorities they hope will protect them.  Politicians are being faced with some uncomfortable truths. But Namita says that unless people seize this moment of national consciousness, the chance to change anything will slip away. That’s why she’s asking for global support to show the world is watching.  Click here to sign Namita’s petition, and ask the Indian government to do everything in its power to make sure tragedies like this are never repeated. Thanks for being a part of this, Katherine and the Change.org team