Saturday, 14 September 2024
Saturday, 14 September 2024
Protests against the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Calcutta's RG Kar Hospital have now spread beyond India’s borders, with Indians residing in Switzerland taking to the streets in solidarity. The crime, which has sparked widespread outrage across India, has also resonated with the Indian diaspora and supporters globally, leading to protests in various parts of the world.
On August 23rd, a group of Indians organised a peaceful demonstration in the city of Vevey, a French-speaking region of Switzerland. They were joined by local Swiss residents, showing solidarity with the ongoing protests in India.
The demonstrators, from diverse professions including researchers, engineers, artists, and students, shared their experiences and expressed their commitment to advocating for gender equality and the safety of women everywhere.
Participants held banners, read out a Hindi poem on women empowerment, and delivered a statement signed by all attendees. The statement spelt out the urgent need for comprehensive reforms across sectors such as law enforcement, education, and public policy to address the systemic issues contributing to gender-based violence.
The event’s organisers emphasised that this was a grassroots initiative, born out of deep concern for women's safety, not just in India, but globally. They submitted a mandate that outlined the specific reforms and policy changes they seek in their efforts to combat gender violence.
The organiser plan to continue their activism until significant progress is made in ensuring the rights, dignity, and safety of all women.
The RG Kar Hospital case has sparked a nationwide movement in India, with protests, demonstrations, and rallies continuing in various parts of the country for over two weeks.
The campaign for justice has shown no signs of slowing down as citizens, activists, and now international organisations, continue to demand systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
