Sakhi for South Asian Survivors is devastated and enraged by the brutal rape and murder of Dr. Moumita Debnath, a postgraduate trainee at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. This horrific act, occurring in a space meant for healing, exposes systemic failures and the pervasive culture of sexual violence and impunity that persists in India and around the world.
Dr. Debnath’s death is a stark reminder that the fight for gender justice remains urgent. Her murder highlights the intersections of sexual violence with broader issues, including the failure of institutions to protect individuals and the normalization of violence within patriarchal and heteronormative structures. This is not just a failure of individual actions but of a society that consistently devalues the lives of marginalized people, regardless of gender.
As we stand in solidarity with the Debnath family and the medical community, we demand not just justice but accountability. The inspiring protests across India demanding justice for Dr. Moumita Debnath and systemic reforms that address the root causes of sexual violence and rape culture cannot be in vain. Their voices are a powerful force for change, calling for a future where the rights of all are upheld, where survivors receive meaningful support, and where violence in all forms is unequivocally rejected.