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2024 Protests in Kolkata: A Turning Point for Women’s Security in India

Trigger warning: this article talks about violence against women


Lea and Sadaf during cleanup day in Ranihati, West Bengal (India)

In August 2024, Kolkata became the epicenter of a national movement after a shocking rape case in a local hospital. Outrage filled the streets, while social media platforms surged with calls for justice. What began as local protests soon spread across the nation, becoming a symbol of the fight for women’s security in India.


Main events

  • August 3, 2024: A woman is brutally raped in a renowned hospital in Kolkata, triggering immediate outrage among citizens.

  • August 4-7, 2024: Protests begin to emerge locally, with small groups gathering outside the hospital, calling for justice and stricter security measures for women.

  • August 8, 2024: The protests grow larger, with women’s rights organizations joining the movement. Protests spread across major streets in Kolkata, leading to traffic blockages and demands for government action.

  • August 10, 2024: Social media becomes a driving force, with the hashtags #JusticeForKolkata and #SafeStreetsForWomen trending nationwide. Videos of the protests circulate widely, garnering national and international attention.

  • August 12, 2024: Protests reach a national scale as other major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, see similar gatherings. Violence breaks out in some areas as clashes between protesters and the police escalate.

  • August 14-18, 2024: The protests continue with increased participation from universities, student unions, and public figures. Demands shift from local to national reforms on women’s safety laws and a push for more protection in public spaces.


At the Training & Development Center in Howrah

The mood among the Youths and Catalysts at the Training and Development Center of Howrah turned somber. Many feared stepping outside as violence occasionally broke out during protests. There was a collective anxiety — anger at the slow pace of justice and sadness for the victim and for women across India, but also throughout the world, who experience similar dangers. Despite this, the desire to bring about change remained strong.


In response, the TDC organized a group discussion, to provide a safe space for the Youths and Catalysts to share personal stories of insecurity, voice their frustrations, while brainstorming ideas to raise awareness and bring about change. A citizenship session was created, focused on women’s security, raising awareness through statistics and suggesting actionable solutions to improve safety. The Youth also considered ways to involve the community, spreading awareness and advocating for change on a local level, working toward a future where women in India can feel safe.


This event has become an opportunity for LP4Y to actively engage in advocating for a safer future for women in India.


Testimony of Léa Gkionis, French Catalyst in the TDC 

Hello, I’m Lea, I’ve been a Coach in TDC Howrah for 10 months. Being a Coach means spending your days with the Youth, talking with them, and doing your best to ensure they feel good at the center and in their personal lives. It also involves fighting for the inclusion of women and gender equality. So, when such an event occurs, it affects us deeply.


As a Coach, but above all as a woman, this story shook me. I felt angry, sad, and helpless. It made me question my own freedom and safety. How can I motivate young women to find work far from home when even a doctor can be raped in her own workplace?

I felt that, as women, we always have to fight for our rights, even for our safety, which should have been guaranteed as a fundamental human right for many years. I was revolted. With other Catalysts, we decided to organize some group discussion, to share our feelings because we could feel that the atmosphere was heavy, and we needed to talk.


During the group discussion we had with the Youth, some of us cried, others were outraged, but what I remember most is the support we were able to offer each other. This brought me hope. On our own scale, we can make a difference by raising awareness and empowering women. I am convinced that together, we can make things evolve.


Testimony of Sadaf Akhtar, TDC Howrah



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