Delhi women organize midnight walks to protest sexual violence culture

Ananya, a 25-year-old activist with a master’s in gender studies from the London School of Economics, splits her time between employment and organizing nocturnal walks in New Delhi. She is a member of Women Walk at Midnight, a collective created in 2016 to prompt women to take back public spaces during times when they are often advised to stay indoors. The movement gained heightened attention after a teenage student was gang-raped, adding to a series of recent assaults on young girls that have left the city reeling.

Participants argue that the protests challenge authorities’ approach to safety, emphasizing the need for accessible, not overly surveilled, urban environments. Their message calls on the government to ensure cities are safe for all residents without resorting to increased policing or cameras.