Chandigarh to march for women’s rights to public spaces

'Bekhauf Aazaadi March’ aims to bring to attention crimes against women, sexual minorities and address patriarchy

August 11, 2017 03:14 pm | Updated December 03, 2021 12:31 pm IST - Chandigarh

AAP activists display placards during a protest over Varnika stalking case in Chandigarh. File photo

AAP activists display placards during a protest over Varnika stalking case in Chandigarh. File photo

In the backdrop of the recent ' stalking episode' in Chandigarh , the city is preparing for the 'Bekhauf Aazaadi' march on Friday night to provide a platform for asserting women's rights to public spaces.

The organisers of the march, led by poet and activist Amy Singh, have created a Facebook page 'Bekhauf Aazaadi March/Reclaiming the Streets', asking people to join the march against patriarchy, binaries, oppression and crimes against women which also extend to sexual minorities.

 

“This isn't the first time a woman has been harassed on the streets and it won't be the last if we don't reclaim the streets. It's about time we smash down the patriarchal norms which restrict the women behind closed doors and set the culprits out loose to wreck havoc,” says the page, pointing out that what happened with the victim of the Chandigarh stalking episode has left the city in jitters.

Ms. Singh, in her post, said that the march seeks, in a peaceful manner, to address and bring public attention to violence against women. “We believe that women and other sexual minorities in India deserve to be able to live in society free from violence. We believe in their right to speedy justice and their right to demand accountability from the justice system,” she said.

The proposed march would start at 10 P.M. on August 11 from Rose garden and end at the Government Arts College at Sector 10 by midnight.

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