Yogita Bhayana is a well-known Anti-Rape Activist, a prominent public figure, widely acknowledged as the face of the Nirbhaya movement from 2012 to 2020. She initiated and spearheaded the protest and campaign to change the juvenile justice law age limit for rapists from 18 to 16 years following the Nirbhaya rape and murder. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill in 2016. Besides the Nirbhaya movement, She is continuously at the forefront of other high profile rape cases, most recently the August 1, 2021 Delhi Cantt. Rape case of 9 yr old Dalit girl, the September 14, 2020 Hathras gang rape case.
Yogita has been a pioneer in advocacy for women’s rights with the Government of India. In this regard she has been instrumental in filing a public petition calling for the Indian Parliament to organize a two-day annual session to discuss and deliberate on women’s issues. The aim of this petition is to give and dedicate adequate attention towards women’s issues, their quality of life and for these issues to be instrumental in parliamentary debates. Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, along with several Members of Parliament have already pledged their support for the same. Yogita’s petition on change.org regarding the same has over one lakh signatures, and is rated as one of the top campaigns of Change.org globally.
Yogita is an Ex-member of National Commission for Women’s (NCW) Expert Committee on Gender and Education and is the recipient of the prestigious 2012 NCW Award for her contribution to society. Yogita has also served as the Vice Chairperson of the Uttarakhand Government’s State Council for Women Empowerment.
Yogita is also a widely recognized POSH expert, having served/currently serving on six Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) constituted to handle complaints on Sexual Harassment at Workplaces, most notably with the Delhi High Court, and Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA).
COVID Warrior (2020-21): Yogita has assisted more than 10,000 people, including migrant workers with ration supply and food packets. She has also sent more than 1,000 Migrants as well as stuck patients back to their villages, during the first wave of COVID last year. During the recently concluded second wave, Yogita’s team successfully ran a helpline number catering to 100 distress calls per day.
Lastly, Yogita is also a renowned TV personality and public speaker, routinely appearing in TV interviews, panel discussions, debates, dedicated shows on my work etc. She is a regular face on TV news channels, having the reputation of a fiery Social Activist.
