From here, the crowdsourced data can help people and communities understand the nature of violence and find solutions to sexual abuse incidents. “So, as an individual, you can use it to better inform yourself and be more situationally aware [and] have better responses and strategies to the violence you face,” says D’Silva. Communities, on the other hand, can advocate for better resources or policies like, say, increased police patrols or more CCTV cameras in the hotspots identified by the platform’s trends.

Don't miss: These successful women in STEM encourage more girls to become leaders in science and technology

D’Silva offers clearer examples of how sharing stories of sexual abuse via the platform has led to solutions. She cites the case of a tea stall found at an intersection of a low-income Delhi neighbourhood. India’s roadside kiosks, she points out, are male-dominated spaces where men would stare at all the women and girls passing by. “They would just intimidate them,” she says. “And this came up in our reports, that they were staring, commenting and even maybe stalking. We asked the young girls and women, ‘What would you like to do?’ And they said, ‘We want them to stop’.”

D’Silva came up with an innovative solution, partnering with the Fearless Collective, the creative organisation that uplifts marginalised groups through public art which was likewise formed in the wake of the Nirbhaya case. Together, they created Talking Walls, murals that serve as canvases upon which women can express their feelings, with, for example, “big staring eyes… saying, ‘Look with your heart, not with your eyes. We will not be intimidated by your gaze. We will speak up, We will stand out’.”

The approach, reports D’Silva, had an immediate impact on the public, including on silent bystanders: “When you are confronted with the reality and when it is painful to one group of people… you have to take notice, right? The tea stall owner himself was then motivated to talk to these men to move on”.

Don't miss: Changemakers shaping the narrative around women's issues

The data also revealed that 90 per cent of young people would confide in friends about sexual abuse, but never to parents or teachers for fear of being restricted from going to public spaces, even school. However, these confidantes are young people, too, who may not know what to do when given delicate information. In response Red Dot established its Campus Ambassador programme, which, in partnership with 500 schools and colleges in India, identifies young leaders who can be trained as first responders.

With guidance, these ambassadors can “help their peers identify the spectrum of violence,” including nonverbal, verbal, physical and digital forms of sexual violence, as well as understand the sociocultural context that influences the negative behaviour and the relevant laws they can turn to. The students also are taught how to intervene when someone is experiencing abuse without putting themselves at risk and, of course, how to use Safecity to report anonymously or access data, which can help them advise authorities about what they need.

For D’Silva, education is really the starting point to ending sexual abuse. Apart from Red Dot, D’Silva is also a founding member of the Brave Movement, the survivor-led coalition that calls on global leaders to end all forms of childhood sexual exploitation. This year, the organisation focuses on digital safety “because the increased use of technology means that we traverse all these worlds seamlessly and violence takes place in [the digital world], but we don't know what we can do to prevent it.”

In case you missed it: Finding Ruby, the hardest podcast everyone must listen to

D’Silva laments how adults can have a poor understanding of the various forms of sexual violence today, stressing the need for more education for parents, teachers and trusted caretakers on what constitutes a sexual offence and how to protect kids from incidents, whether offline or online.

She recalls a mother who called up to say how her son ended up on what she says was a “porn site”. The son was doing his homework, researching online about the human body—which of course included genitals. The “porn site” that the parent saw was actually YouTube. “And I asked her a simple question: ‘Was he using regular YouTube or was he using YouTube for Kids?’” The mom didn’t know about the child-safe version of the popular video platform. “I think it is important that everybody knows this information,” says D’Silva, who goes on to recommend regular conversations about digital safety and sexual abuse in schools, community spaces and even workplaces.

Importantly, D’Silva says, adults should learn to trust children when they say they’re being sexually harassed. Grown-ups may have doubts when, say, a young girl reports a family member forcing her to sit on his lap, because they’re not sure if someone in their circle can be considered as a violator. “We have to understand that when a child tells us that, they mean it. We have to take them seriously,” she emphasises. It’s also important to convey trust as this gives children the confidence to stand up for themselves and say, “Stop”, “No”, or “Don’t force me to do anything” in dangerous situations.

“You know, it’s too rampant,” adds D’Silva. “These issues are too rampant amongst children to leave it to chance that they will be safe. We have to put in guardrails beforehand… it’s up to us.”

NOW READ

6 non-fiction books to guide humans through the age of AI

Asia’s love affair with beautiful watches thrives, thanks to these leading luxury watch retailers

Asia’s best home décor designers take interiors to a whole new level with their unique vision