Hyderabad: When we remain silent to online abuse or gender-based violence, we become equally complicit, said Telangana police women safety wing director general Charu Sinha, calling on men and boys to challenge patriarchal attitudes and speak out against harassment and gender-based violence.The DG was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day training of trainers programme under the ‘Stand With Her’ campaign at the University of Hyderabad on Monday. Launched in March 2026, the year-long initiative calls on men and boys to move beyond being passive bystanders and become active upstanders who challenge discrimination and inappropriate behaviour.The campaign took shape after the women safety wing examined the limited response to a reporting mechanism under its Safe Mobility Initiative, prompting a closer look at how society normalises misbehaviour. Sinha also highlighted how rigid notions of masculinity can restrict emotional expression among boys and men, stressing the need to foster a culture of respect, empathy and equality.Organised by the WSW in collaboration with Rubaroo and the university’s centre for women’s studies, the programme aims to equip participants to take conversations on gender equality and women’s safety into their communities and institutions. Prof K Suneetha Rani, dean of the school of social sciences, called for unequal practices within homes to be questioned. “If we are trying to democratise every space around us, why not democratise home, and why are we taking it for granted?” she asked.The inaugural event was attended by University of Hyderabad vice chancellor Prof J Anuradha, registrar Dr Devesh Nigam, centre for women’s studies head Prof Deepa Srinivas and WSW’s head of training and content development, Asiya Shervani.
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