Author: Roshni Singh, She’s the First Board Member and Girls Advisory Council Member

Editor’s Note: February 14 is V-Day, a day to center ending violence against women and girls.

Domestic violence, dowry, child marriage, rape, and inequality are major issues in my community. Many girls are beaten and physically violated by their in-laws and husband because their dowry wasn’t large enough. Some women are burnt. A 6-month-old, a 12-year-old girl, and a 90-year-old mother were raped.

Even when heinous crimes are being perpetrated, our legislature, police administration, judicial system, and Nepal’s president—who is female herself—do nothing.

To end such violence and to get justice, we must speak up for our rights. We gain power by taking a stand.

My older sister and I organized a flash mob here in Surkhet, Nepal, to protest rape culture. I gave a speech about rape and girls’ suffering. We raised questions to our government for not implementing laws and strict punishment against rapists.

For 2 days we practiced the flash mob, and it ended in just 40 minutes.

I felt really comfortable talking in front of people. My voice was heard by so many people.

Media covered the event, so I saw myself on the news and my family was so proud of me.  My main points were highlighted.

To make a difference and see changes in our society, we must take a stand for ourselves and our rights. Girls and women are tackling issues like child marriage, violence, and inequality. We should not be afraid to raise our voices in truth. If we remain silent, then people will dominate us, disrespect us, and violate our rights more.

Boys and men also need to break stereotypes and stand up for gender inequality so that all girls will get to experience all of their rights.

When we stand up for our rights, we can be an inspiration for so many girls out there who are scared of sharing their pain and encourage them to speak up about violence.

Approximately 15 million adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19) worldwide have experienced forced sex at some point in their life (Source: UN Women). The right to safety from all forms of violence is one of the Girls’ Bill of Rights. For guided support on how to take action in your own community against violence against women and girls, download our toolkit at GirlsBillOfRights.org.

About Roshni: Roshni, 20, is a member of She’s the First’s board of directors and our Girls Advisory Council. She’s earning her bachelor's degree in civil engineering in Kathmandu, Nepal. She loves public speaking, dancing, reading books, and playing football and table tennis.