There is no safe place for women in the world
Actress turned activist Somy Ali says that whether it is Mumbai or Miami, there is no safe place for women in the world. After the Nirbhaya case of Delhi, the Sakinaka rape-murder case in Mumbai has raised concerns regarding women's safety.
Reacting to news of the case, Somy says, "There is no safe place for women in the world. Not Mumbai, not Miami, not anywhere when we have predators or people with clout who know very well that they can get away with rape or any heinous crime because they have the means to do so. Yes, Mumbai is modern and yes there has been liberal progression when it comes to attire, but that does not change the fact that women are not safe. The Sakinaka case makes it more than evident that women are not safe anywhere. We also know that the death penalty is not a deterrent to rape."
Citing examples of Bollywood actresses, she says, "Do you think a stunning Tabu or a gorgeous Alia Bhatt can walk around the streets of Mumbai alone at night without security? These are celebrities with the privilege to have protection around them 24/7. Think about your average woman with no power and security guards who has to go home at night from work on foot, in a rickshaw or a bus and think about how unsafe and vulnerable they are to predators."
She further adds, "Think about the women in the rural areas who have to work and walk home from let's say working on a farm." She feels angry about the gory details of the Sakinaka rape-murder incident. She says, "Our anger and disillusionment are extremely justified. In fact, there should be more outrage when we know we have this problem. Why aren't we focusing on a solution? Again, victim blaming, people with power justifying what took place in the Sakinaka case is not helping women being safe in Mumbai or anywhere."
She points out that as long as the perpetrators are aware that they will and can get away with such despicable crimes, they will continue to do what they wants. She adds, "This is not just a South Asian issue, it is a universal issue. About 60 percent of the domestic violence victims rescued by my organisation No More Tears have stated that they were forced to have sex without consent and in many instances were sodomized, too."
She also talks about societal injustice and says, "Being married to someone does not give one the right to rape their partner. Similarly, neither does a boyfriend have a right to rape his girlfriend. Nothing will change because the structure and foundation of our society is built on being able to get away with bribery, which becomes second nature and then there are crimes against humanity in third world countries."
Somy feels protests are not the answer to curbing crimes against women. She says, "Corruption and crimes can only be stopped by bringing forth concrete changes and eliminating corrupt members of law enforcement and governments. Once again, the death penalty is not a deterrent when it comes to rape. We can protest all we want, which is excellent because we are giving a voice to the voiceless, but we need something much stronger than placards." Somy has been a vocal women's safety and rights activist for many years. She's made multiple short films on topics like abortion, teenage suicide and domestic violence.
