#KnowYourRights To Feel Safe At Heart

“Being fearless precisely when you are most scared is the best hack.” - James Altucher

A mother before the birth of her child:

If you happen to be a boy

Promise to look into my eyes

All your and my life,

Whenever and wherever we talk

Promise to be a saviour

And not a predator

Of society, women and girls.

If you happen to be a girl

Promise to live fearlessly

With all knowledge and wisdom

So that nobody dares to take

Advantage of you as a girl or woman

Nobody dares to abuse you sexually

Ever.

I promise as a mother

Whether you happen to be a girl or a boy

I have to impart substantial

Appropriate education and knowledge

To you

So that you become a strong pillar

Of family, society and nation

So that you don’t have to look at

Anyone else for learning or support

So that you know

What to do and how

In the case of a risk, attack and violence.

A girl needs a right kind of atmosphere, guidance, education, knowledge, mentorship, training and learning from her family, society and nation to ensure that she stands tall all her life in case of a crisis, risk, threat or violence against her. If this does not happen, then it is not her mistake. She does not lack anything. It is a lacking at the other end. The family, society and nation are to be blamed if each girl and woman of our country do not feel safe at any moment of her life.

In the heart of my country, the capital city, every day there is are news of a girl child or woman getting raped or sexually abused. And this is the case in all metropolis, cities, villages, districts of the country. Recently a young girl has written an open letter to the chief minister of Delhi asking if there will be a day when the women and girls of this city will be 100% safe. As of now the cases are happening right under the daylight. Where is the lacking, at which end? Is it shortfall in the upbringing of the culprit or the victim? A culprit would have never dared to perform a heinous act of sexual abuse, harassment or violation against the opposite gender, had he been educated well with an inculcation of good moral values during his early growth.

On the other hand, he also would have never dared to act wrongly, had there been an alarm raised against him by the victim. Similarly, if the victim had gained proper training, learning and education right during her early years about sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual violence, she would have learnt about the appropriate course of action under such circumstances.

The real wealth of a country is measured by the combination of happiness, safety and security in her citizens. We all wish for a time, soon to come, when a woman’s energy is not spent in fighting against such evils but in building up a family, society and the nation. If we are not able to give her this atmosphere, it is our fault.

I’m writing this blog post to support Amnesty International’s#KnowYourRights campaign at BlogAdda. You can also contribute to the cause by donating or spreading the word.