One Survivor’s Fight to Shine a Spotlight on Sexual Violence in India
Last week, a court in Chhattisgarh, India sentenced five men to death for their role in the brutal rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in 2021. Offering the family a ride on motorbikes, five men raped and murdered the girl, killed her father as he tried to defend her, and took the life of her three-year-old niece.
Last Monday, an Indian court convicted a police volunteer of raping and murdering a 31-year-old trainee doctor in August 2024—a case that gripped the nation, ignited hospital strikes, and once again exposed the dire state of women’s safety in India. The brutality of the attack at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital drew national outrage, with many asking the same question: when will India be safe for its women?
The numbers paint an alarming picture: in 2022 alone, India reported an average of 90 rapes a day. Nearly one in three married women in India endure domestic abuse. The average Indian woman is 17 times more likely to face sexual violence from her husband than from others, and, on average, one woman reported a rape every 15 minutes across the country. And yet, a 2018 survey revealed that 99% of sexual violence cases go unreported—hidden beneath the weight of stigma, fear, and a justice system that often shames survivors rather than supporting them.
This culture of silence is precisely what Nasma Hassan is fighting to change. A survivor herself, Nasma founded Spotlight in 2023, inspired by her time in the UK, where she volunteered with Circles Southeast, an organization that rehabilitates sexual offenders to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
“The contrast was stark,” Nasma told More to Her Story. “Seeing the extensive support available to abuse survivors in the UK made me realize how much we were lacking in India. It was clear that something had to be done.”
Spotlight operates in the shadows—offering online and chat-based services that allow survivors, many of whom live with their abusers, to discreetly seek help. Through Instagram and a dedicated website, women can access a crisis helpline and 24/7 emotional support provided by trained volunteers. Over the past year, the organization has supported 60 survivors, connecting them with pro-bono legal aid and therapy.
The initiative also works to dismantle the societal shame that silences survivors. In collaboration with the Janamaithri police in Kerala’s Kollam district, Spotlight organizes free psychological first-aid training for officers, equipping them to respond to victims with empathy and understanding. “For many survivors, the police are the first—and sometimes only—point of contact,” said Nasma. “A compassionate response can make all the difference.”
But the road is steep. Nonprofits like Spotlight struggle to sustain themselves without government support, and their reach remains limited. “We are doing what we can, but real change requires government intervention.”
India has often been labeled “the rape capital of the world,” a title that some critics argue reflects not only the frequency of sexual violence but also the treatment of survivors. Victims frequently endure societal stigma, compounded by shaming from the police and judiciary, which discourages many from coming forward.
“One of the tragedies in India is the gender-based violence that exists in homes across the country. As in many parts of the world, survivors of sexual violence usually know the perpetrator. Domestic violence is terrifyingly common,” Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, told More to Her Story. “There are good laws, but they will not suffice unless they are properly enforced, and are supported by social services that can provide legal and financial support.”
Nasma’s message is clear: meaningful change cannot happen without government intervention.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to reach more individuals, but without sustained government support, our capabilities will remain limited.”