Stand up for safe Delhi!

We are convinced that the violence taking place in Delhi is a matter of personal responsibility. How could it be that people who are witnessing violence are turning their eyes away? What we need is to make people aware about what is going on right in front of their eyes. I stand for a safe Delhi wants to change mindsets and get people to care about women’s safety in their city. Get involved and be part of it! We are looking for volunteers who are sharing our concerns and want to take action!

I stand for safe Delhi is a campaign initiated by the Centre for Social Research which is working since over three decades on the issue of gender equality.

Why is Delhi the rape capital of India?

The number of cases of rape reported nationwide has grown at an alarming rate: from 15,031 cases in 1998, to 18,233 in 2004 and a shocking 21,397 in 2009. Delhi has seen the number of cases of rape reported dip since a high of 658 in 2005, but it remains the location of more than double the number of rapes than in other Indian cities, including Mumbai (182), Bhopal (117), and Jabalpur (76).

How can we account for such rises in the number of cases besides a better reporting and more women feeling comfortable enough to come forward?

• Urban migration?
• Skewed sex ratios due to female foeticide?
• A low level of convictions for those accused of rape?
• Low number of police?
• Lack of sexual education?

No Gender Equality without men!

In international contrast Indian men attest poorly on issues of gender equality - that´s the outcome of the survey IMAGES (International Men and Gender Equity Survey) published by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) on time with the International Women´s Day 2011.

Gender equality cannot be achieved without men taking a major part in the combat. This comprehension has become an incontrovertible evidence of the emancipation movement internationally during the last decades. Social change aiming at enhancing conditions for women in all societal sectors needs the engagement of men, who are - as a matter of fact - still the major decision makers and hence present the most influential powers in many societies.