How sustained activism can turn outrage into justice for sexual violence survivors
A video from Bihar's Jamui district showing two Class 10 students allegedly assaulted and molested sparked swift outrage and arrests two weeks ago. Yet as social media attention moved on, survivors remained in legal limbo. The incident highlights a broader challenge: converting momentary public anger into sustained pressure for institutional justice.
CPI(M) activist and advocate Rajat Kanti Mondal argues the issue is organizational structure, not lack of outrage. Cases like Nirbhaya and RG Kar drew people to streets, but protests fade due to lack of institutional backing. Sexual violence has no natural organizational home—each case is local, survivors fear exposure, and networks rebuild from scratch. Online hashtags spark attention but cannot summon police or judges; only street presence can.
Sustained justice requires three elements: organizational stamina from groups like AIDWA, bodies from student movements, and reach from content creators. Demands must outlast verdicts, targeting systemic issues like police accountability, fast-track courts, and safety infrastructure rather than just convictions.
