DELHI, January 6 2023 / — Gawain, Tokyo and Delhi based non-profit organization developing a method to end rape in slums, announced the preliminary results of the project in 2022. A comparison of sex crime rates over the six-month period before and after implementation of the uniquely developed community-based method showed that attempted rape was reduced from 10 cases to 0, and other forms of sexual violence were reduced from 11 cases to 0. On average the preliminary figures showed an approximate decrease of 87% in sex crimes in the targeted slum areas.
※These are the preliminary results, not the results from the randomized controlled trial.
Gawain spent about 4 years developing a rape prevention method to be used in the slums of India, called the CSD method (Community Self-Defense Method). To verify the effectiveness of its method, Gawain partnered with Tsukuba University in Japan to conduct a six-month randomized controlled trial in the city of Delhi from May 2022 to December 2022. More than 2,000 women and children from 502 families living in the Ravidas, Hanuman, and Parvatiya camps participated in the study.
A comparison of sex crime rates over the six-month period before and after implementation of the CSD method showed that attempted rape was reduced from 10 cases to 0, and other forms of sexual violence were reduced from 11 cases to 0. In addition, other sex crimes such as stalking and the use of obscene language both decreased by 90%, theft of clothing and underwear decreased by 58%, both voyeurism and indecent exposure decreased by 92%, and physical contact without permission decreased by 88%. On average the preliminary figures showed an approximate decrease of 87% in sex crimes in the targeted slum areas.
The CSD method is environmental intervention utilizing the compatibility between the "slum area's environmental characteristics" and "sound. CSD stands for "Community Self-Defense" and is an organized self-defense system triggered by a personal alarm.
Based on these improvements, we are planning to launch a larger scale project in January 2023 targeting other slums in Delhi.
About Gawain
Gawain is an Japanese NGO based in India, with a mission to "end rape in slums". We are developing the world's first effective rape prevention program for slum. Rape is one of the crimes with the highest number of unknown cases, so precise statistics are not available. Just in India where Gawain is located, 28,046 women reported harm in 2020, which shows about 80 rapes cases per day (refer to the NCRB). To ensure safety in project implementation, we have formed alliances with local police, and conduct joint research with universities to ensure accurate impact evaluations, and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to advance the project. Regardless of gender, caste, or wealth, we will continue to work on building a "living infrastructure" where everyone can live in peace.
Official website：https://www.sirgawain.org/