Friday, 20 September 2024
Friday, 20 September 2024
In a display of solidarity, thousands of men, women, political leaders, and celebrities are set to take to the streets of West Bengal on the eve of the 78th Independence Day in a protest against the recent rape and murder of a woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta.
The protest, echoing the historic "Reclaim the Night" movement, which began in Leeds in 1977 as part of the Women's Liberation Movement, aims to reclaim safety and autonomy for women in public spaces.
Let’s take a look at instances when women fought for their rights across the globe.
Ingrid Escamilla’s brutal murder protest in Mexico City (2020)
Ingrid Escamilla, a 25-year-old woman, was stabbed to death, allegedly by a man she lived with. Her body was mutilated by the perpetrator to conceal the crime. Matters became worse when the forensic workers investigating the case leaked images of her corpse. Widespread outrage poured out on the streets and women took to the streets of Mexico City, filling the air with slogans like "not one more murder."
Shaheen Bagh’s women led anti-CAA protests in New Delhi, India (2019-2020)
The Shaheen Bagh protest was a peaceful sit-in demonstration in Delhi, India, that began on 15 December 2019 and continued until 24 March 2020. Spearheaded by a group of resolute Muslim women, the round the clock protest centered around blocking a key roadway in the Shaheen Bagh area, using peaceful means. The movement was sparked by the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on 11 December 2019. The women of Shaheen Bagh drew national and international attention to their cause.
Women’s March in US (2017)
The Women's March, held on 21, January 2017, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. President, was a protest against his purported anti-women rhetoric. It marked the largest single-day protest in U.S. history at the time with millions taking part. The march also highlighted a broad range of causes, including women's rights, immigration reform, healthcare access, disability justice, reproductive rights, environmental protection, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, religious freedom, workers' rights, and the promotion of tolerance.
The Nirbhaya protests in New Delhi, India (2012)
The 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder incident garnered extensive national and international attention, sparking widespread condemnation both in India and globally. The brutality of the crime ignited public outrage, leading to massive protests against the state. In New Delhi, thousands of protesters clashed with security forces, and similar demonstrations erupted in major cities. The Nirbhaya protests put gender issues at the centrestage, with a new law enacted within one year.
Chipko Movement (1974)
Gandhian Sunderlal Bahuguna rallied villagers, mostly women, in the Uttarakhand hills to protest against rampant commercial logging and government deforestation policies. Rural women literally hugged the trees to prevent timber cutting in the hills. Women became the primary stakeholders in the afforestation efforts that emerged from the Chipko movement, driving environmental and social change.
May 68 revolution of Paris, France (1968)
The protests began when students, influenced by leftist ideology , rallied against capitalism, consumerism, and US imperialism. The students, mostly women, occupied universities and public spaces. The movement gained momentum and led to the largest general strike in French history. By mid-May, the demonstrations had spread beyond campuses, reaching factories and other workplaces. On May 13th, a union-led general strike saw 200,000 people marching in solidarity.
Women’s March Pretoria, Africa (1956)
On Aug 9, 1956 about 20,000 black women marched on the streets of South Africa’s capital, Pretoria to protest against the infamous Apartheid system. This historic march took place on a Thursday—the traditional day off for black domestic workers— to ensure the biggest possible turnout. The women, arriving by train, walked in small groups of twos and threes to avoid attention from the authorities, who had banned large gatherings. They converged at the Union Buildings, the heart of the South African government, to make their voices heard.
