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If you are facing any sexual violence or you know someone who has, you should take the following steps:
- Call helplines for immediate protection.
- Complain at the nearest police station.
Sexual Violence
If you have faced any form of sexual violence which may include, rape, inappropriate touching, stalking etc, you can file an FIR with the police. You can file a complaint against anyone including a family member, teacher, etc.
If you are woman/trans woman
You have a right to file a complaint under the laws on sexual violence in India but only against a man. If you are a trans woman and the police refuse to file the FIR stating that you are not a ‘woman’ under the law, then read here to see what steps you can take.
If you are a man/trans man
You cannot file an FIR under the laws on sexual violence in India, since men/transmen cannot be victims of sexual violence. Your only alternative is to file an FIR with the help of the laws which punish those who hurt or injure you.
Sexual Violence at the Workplace
If the sexual harassment policy in your office is gender-neutral, then you can file a complaint regardless of your gender. If you want to stop the sexual harassment through employer action (for example dismissal of the harasser) then you can file a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which is a complaint mechanism available at all offices. You have the option of going to the police as well.
The law on sexual harassment at the workplace identifies only women as victims who can approach the ICC or the police to file an FIR. If this is the policy in your organization, then these are the options you have:
- As a man or a transgender man, you can take help from NGOs and a lawyer who will be able to file an FIR with the laws which punish those who hurt or injure you.
- As a transgender woman, you have the right to file an FIR under the laws on sexual violence.
Online Sexual Violence
If you are facing any sexual harassment online, then click here to understand more.
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