Thousands of Indian women erupt onto the streets over rampant sexual violence

Women in India have long protested sexual violence, in 2013 women held placards asking ‘When will the dawn break after this dark night?’ (Photo: ramesh_lalwani/Flickr)

Thousands of young women in India walked from the gates of their university campus this week into the streets of Delhi, chanting, “We want justice.”

Sexual harassment, assault, catcalling and molestation are a constant threat to these women.

Placards read, “Women don’t need curfews—rapists need consequences,” and, “No one ever asks what the rapist was wearing.”

Protesters threw stones, smashed windows and set fire to vehicles on campus as well as damaging police vehicles, according to reports. Students also reportedly blocked a nearby main road.

The fury that erupted on India’s university campuses over the past week was triggered by a series of brutal rapes in Delhi. A 17-year-old was gang raped in a park near Delhi University by three men posing as police officers.

A week earlier, another 17-year-old was gang raped and murdered in Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar neighbourhood.

Rapes of an 11-year-old and a six-year-old were reported in the same month.

And last month, a 16-year-old was allegedly raped by a bus driver and conductor after she boarded a sleeper bus in Delhi.

But it isn’t just the horrific violence—the authorities’ response is also fuelling the protests.

Women in Delhi were banned from parks at night. Classes were halted at one of Delhi’s most prestigious women’s colleges. And hostels for female students imposed strict curfews.

“Instead of going after criminals, you’re going to tell women to sit at home,” said Aranya Rathore, a student at Delhi University. “A demand for more surveillance is not a solution. In fact, it’s going to curtail our freedom more.”

Vaishnavi Dhruw, a history student at Delhi University, spoke from a “smash the patriarchy” march on Wednesday. “I don’t know a single woman who lives in this city and feels safe,” she said.

Vaishnavi added, “We are not marching for safety, we are here to protest for our freedom, for the most basic right to walk in our own streets.”

“Again and again, women are told to stay indoors, to not go out at night, to cover ourselves, to protect ourselves. When will society tell men in our country not to rape?”

Ananya Wig, a graduate of Delhi University, said she had experienced harassment both on university campuses and in public spaces.

More Indian women are accessing education than ever before—but sexism runs deep.

Devyani Sarkar, an English student, said, “Delhi University is one of the most prestigious universities in India right now.

“But there are various cases of women being assaulted by professors, sometimes unfortunately also for grades. It’s despicable, but it’s also a living truth.”

These protesters were inspired by India’s Cockroach movement, which saw hundreds of thousands of young Indians took to the streets over education reform. That movement kicked off more nationwide protests on Friday against millions of people being stripped of their vote.

“My generation is not afraid to stand up and protest. We know that society has to change,” said school student Subhani.

In the summer of 2024, over a million doctors in India shut down the health service one Saturday in protest at the rape and murder of a colleague.

Strikes and protests swept India after the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, west Bengal.

The doctor was discovered, dead and mutilated, on a blood-soaked mattress after going to sleep during her shift.

In Delhi, chants of “We want justice” echoed through the streets and doctors held up signs saying, “Will we ever be safe?”

In Mumbai, protesters held up placards saying, “No safety, no service,” “Rage against rape,” and “Her pain—our voice.”

The gang rape and murder of a student in 2012 also sparked huge protests. It eventually led to some reform of the criminal justice system—although these changes did not go far enough and were not always implemented.

Now Indian women are back on the streets. As Subhani says, “The days of women being silent is over.”