End violence against women & girls in India

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers that one out of five women has been physically or sexually assaulted by a man in her life and, in 2017, Reuters ranked India the fourth most dangerous place to be a woman. Gender-based violence such as domestic violence, sex and forced-labour trafficking, dowry deaths, rape, workplace harassment and child marriage continues to increase, irrespective of the education that’s been given on these topics. Every third adolescent girl aged 15-19 years is married and every second married adolescent girl has given birth to a child. Despite harsher penalties, crimes against women and girls in the country are continuing to rise with a 31% increase in the number of reported rape cases over the past 10 years with the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recording 88 rape cases every day in 2019. 

 

COVID-19 has added to the issues with a dramatic rise in the cases of violence against women and girls. On top of this, online harassment such as stalking, misuse of personal pictures, and inappropriate messages has also gone up making social media and other online platforms an unsafe place for the female population. 

 

Snehalaya has been working consistently to end this systematic violence against women and in turn empower the women of India since 1989. We work towards ensuring a life free from inequality, cruelty and discrimination. We believe that every woman deserves a life with dignity and freedom and hence we stand with these women and help them create a life they truly deserve. After all, these women are only a few steps away from living a life full of smiles and happiness, all they need is a little love and support.

 

Our 23 projects not only focus on creating better lives through the provision of shelter, healthcare, education and support, we also prioritize overcoming the obstacles faced by sex workers and their children, people living with HIV/AIDS and victims of sexual and other gender-based violence. We shine a light on the

issues that are least debated or talked about in society. We also bring change in the thoughts of the mass population through programs and campaigns. Our

motto is to rescue and rehabilitate those in need and since 1989, we have supported over 200,000 women and children, ensuring their safety, self

development, self-belief and empowerment.

We believe an educated woman can make a difference and our campaigns with Malala Fund have promoted girls’ education engaging with 30,000 people to become change-makers. We have more recently risen to the challenges of COVID 19 maintaining and extending our operations.

·        Snehalaya’s Childline team (ranked no 1 in India) rescued 88 girls from child marriage during lockdown - over 40% of all rescues in Maharashtra!

·        Our 3,500 sex workers were also hit hard during the lockdown period and so far we have helped 35 of them leave prostitution and find new vocations.

·        Our women’s shelter and helpline provided sanctuary to hundreds of women experiencing violence.

·        Our adoption center, despite being 20% over capacity, continued to support pregnant women and victims of rape.

·        Food and hygiene kits distributed to 40,000 families in our poorest communities

·        Roadside assistance to 40,000 migrant workers on the long walk home from Mumbai and Pune.

·        Our new mental health project helps women rejected by their families and forced onto the streets.

You can help us to support many more survivors of abuse and violence today by building them a better, happier tomorrow. We believe in the power of you!