Recently, actress Nivetha Pethuraj posted a video on her social media handle, in which she revealed that she was sexually harassed as a child.

"Greetings. There are a lot of ongoing problems in our country. Some of them we cannot control; only a few we can. One such problem that we can control is women's safety", the actress started.

"Why I post this video is because I am pretty sure that a lot of males and females who will watch this video would have been victims of sexual harassment. That includes me too.

At five years of age, how do I go tell my parents about what happened? How do I explain? I did not even know what anything meant at the age.

Such crimes are more often than not perpetrated by people around us - like relatives, friends, neighbours etc., who we know, rather than strangers. I am requesting all parents to be more responsible. I know it will be very uncomfortable, but sit your kids down and talk to them about it. Start from when they are 2.

Teach them what wrongful talk is, what wrongful touch is. You never know when they will go through pain and all these things. We don't know what happens at school, tuition or at a neighbouring house.

To all my men friends out there, I know you do a lot for us, most of you guys. This is a request, please form communities of 8-10 people per street, and take turns every day to monitor what happens on your street. From day to night, night to morning, take turns and do it. If there is something shady happening in your street, you can find it and question it. Please do it for us (women).

Inform the people on your street that you are watching out for them. Whatever you think you can do to help us, please do it. This is because we cannot depend on the police all the time. They do help us, but we have to believe in ourselves and the people around us as well, to keep us safe.

I get scared when I go out and I suspect everyone I see. This is wrong, we can avoid it. This is a small thing, you can easily give this to us. This is my request to all the men out there."




 

VIDEO: NIVETHA TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WOMEN SAFETY VIDEO