A Lament for Lost Innocence

The Unending Battle for Women's Safety

How much more tragedy can we endure? How many more lives must be marred before the world wakes up? Women have given everything; support, life, and an indelible mark on history. These should be met with reverence, not violence. Yet, the headlines that celebrate women’s achievements at the beginning of the week turn to horror by the end, recounting the latest acts of sexual violence.

This is no ordinary violence; it is a cannibalism of the soul, a crime against the essence of humanity. The frequency of these atrocities has dulled our collective conscience. “It’s been happening for years,” they say. But should that familiarity silence feminine outrage?

We are witnessing the erosion of strength and femininity, reduced to weakness, and taken for granted. Purity is being exploited for criminal pleasure. The names and faces may differ a trainee doctor in India, a teenage girl in Sri Lanka, but the terror is the same. Fear grips women in every corner of the world, as they navigate daily life with caution. As you read this, countless women are second-guessing their choices, afraid to take public transport, afraid of their own families, afraid to live fully in a world that should be theirs to explore.

It’s not all men, they insist. But it is always a man. And while not every man is guilty, how many have risen to stand against this tide? “Not all men” is a hollow cry. In a world where women are constantly on guard, the burden of proof lies with men, not women. If you are a man who resents being associated with rapists and abusers, direct your anger at those who tarnish your name, not at the women who are forced to live in fear. It is disheartening to see this label unjustly cast upon all men, Yet, rapists hide among them, cloaked in the guise of the ordinary.

The issue extends beyond mere authority; it is rooted in the need to shift societal mindsets. The old adage, "Think of what you would do if this happened to your sister or mother," has lost its resonance. The harsh truth is that a rapist has no preference, it could be anyone. We now exist in a society where some men would not hesitate to harm even their own kin.

Discipline must become our focus, and it begins with those who leer with unspoken intent, those who clandestinely capture images beneath skirts, the boyfriend who brags of conquest to his mates, those who stood by when she was groped on the tube, who claimed to be allies yet remained silent, who shared her nudes in group chats, who cross the street when he follows her home, who roll up their windows as he rolls his down, who sit idly at parties while he's asking what her mouth does, the conductor who refused to fight for her safety. Silence in the face of such acts speaks volumes, far too many men choose it. Disappointed we are stuck here hiding sanitary napkins around paper while openly discussing and sharing things that degrade and objectify.

True change requires more than outrage; it demands action. We must embed respect and consent into educational frameworks from a young age to silence the refrain of "boys will be boys" once and for all, teaching that boundaries are sacred and individual autonomy must be upheld. Communities should cultivate open dialogues that confront toxic masculinity and dismantle harmful stereotypes. Law enforcement and judicial systems must be reformed to offer strong protection for victims and swift justice for perpetrators. Safe spaces must be established where women can speak freely without fear, and where men, as allies, hold each other accountable and challenge the behaviors that perpetuate abuse.

Consent is not a mere formality; it’s about nurturing an environment where saying “no” is respected as much as saying “yes,” where ambiguity is replaced by clarity, and where mutual respect is the norm. If she can't say no, she can't say yes, a truth that must guide all interactions. Consent is ongoing, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that boundaries are honored, paving the way for a world where respect is not the exception but the rule.

It’s hard to believe that this battle still rages on. To all the women, never think it couldn’t happen to you. Remain vigilant, for until the world is made safer, the hunt, tragically, continues.