The objective of the study is to gather data about experiences and perceptions about sexual harassment in public spaces faced by women and girls in Rohtak.

Jagori and Safetipin undertook a rapid assessment on perceptions with regard to safety of women and girls in public spaces, and to identify perspectives and strategies that would guide further designing of interventions in three cities of Haryana – Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar and Rohtak.

The high female infant mortality rates (Miller, 1985); the practice of female infanticide (Krishnaswamy, 1988); the neglect of female children with regard to access to health services, nutrition, (Sen and Sengupta, 1983 and education (Mankekar, 1985); and the sexual abuse of girls (Bhalerao, 1985

Child abuse manifests itself in several forms and dimensions - physical exploitation (child labour), emotional trauma (child prostitution) and marital harassment (child marriage).

Sexual abuse of children is an issue shrouded in ignorance and denial in our country. One of the chief reasons for this conspiracy of silence is the high value, almost idealization, of the family.

A society is judged by the way it treats its women and children. So is a judicial system. Nothing is more horrifying than the sexual abuse of a child: nothing more reprehensible than a judicial system that subsequently victimises the victim, police behaviour that adds terror to agony.