Dia Mirza urges parents to teach sons consent after Delhi-NCR rape cases

Actor Dia Mirza has called on parents to raise sons who understand consent, respect boundaries and accept rejection, in a social media post on Tuesday, 29 September. Her message comes as alleged rape and sexual assault cases involving women and minors in Delhi-NCR and Bihar have renewed safety concerns. The Supreme Court on Monday, 28 September, took suo motu cognisance of recent cases and sought a response from Delhi Police, stating that public spaces cannot become 'zones of high risk'.

In her Instagram post, Mirza wrote: 'Don't raise girls to avoid harm. Raise boys who won't cause harm.' She said she teaches her five-year-old son Avyaan that consent is 'not merely the absence of a no, it is the presence of a willing and comfortable yes'. Both Hindustan Times and ABP Live report that she urged parents to teach sons empathy, respect and how to handle rejection without treating it as an insult.