She Matters

  Sexual harassment and assault are among the most pervasive forms of gender-based violence worldwide. They not only violate human rights and dignity but also leave profound and lasting impacts on victims—physically, emotionally, and socially. Despite legal frameworks and awareness campaigns, women and girls continue to face harassment and assault in homes, educational institutions, workplaces, public spaces, and online environments. Global and Indian Statistical Data Global Overview According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , nearly 1 in 3 women (about 840 million) have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a partner or someone else in their lifetime. This staggering figure includes intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence such as assault or harassment. World Health Organization Additionally, global estimates suggest approximately 263 million women aged 15 and older have experienced sexual violence by someone other than a partner at least once....

I never imagined that a single moment could divide my life into “before” and “after.” I trusted the space I was in, the people around me, and that trust was shattered. What happened to me was not my fault, but for a long time, I carried the weight of shame as if it were. I replayed every detail in my mind, wondering what I could have done differently, even though I knew deep down that the blame did not belong to me. After the harassment and assault, fear followed me everywhere. I stopped speaking freely, stopped laughing loudly, and avoided places I once felt safe in. I was constantly alert, constantly tired. When I finally gathered the courage to speak up, I was met with doubt and uncomfortable questions. “Why were you there?” “Why didn’t you react?” Each question felt like another wound, making me want to retreat back into silence. But silence was slowly destroying me. I reached out for help, first to someone I trusted, then to professionals who listened without judgment. For the f...