Creating an app was not easy for 44 year old Sara Love. Reason? For him technology was equivalent to black letter buffalo. He had worked in the insurance sector for a decade. But then he decided to become a full-time developer with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) so that he could decode the confusing world of coding. For weeks she kept correcting each line of code with her laptop in the kitchen. When she was frustrated, she would say to herself, think of a bigger purpose. She was sure that if she could get even one woman out of a difficult situation, her objective would be accomplished. In fact, she herself felt the need for such an app, because she too had been a victim of domestic violence. The issue of domestic violence is not limited to India. Countries like Turkey, Bangladesh and Iraq have the highest rates of domestic violence in the world, while America is at the forefront among developed countries. Domestic violence is a bitter reality that exists in every country. According to World Health Organization data, approximately 1 in 3 women worldwide (about 30%) experience physical or sexual violence at some point in time by a partner. Although Denmark, Finland and some developed countries of Western Europe have built strong systems for women’s safety, economic self-reliance and legal rights, no country has been able to eliminate domestic violence. Therefore, now it is more important to find a solution through technology. When this issue was being discussed in Mumbai, a friend of mine recommended me to check out Sara’s app designed for women victims of domestic violence. The name of the app is- Sister Signal. The idea came from Sara’s own experience of being in a mentally abusive relationship. He had also seen some relatives go through this. She jumped into creating this app because she was tired of seeing that there were less tools for women that were emotionally intelligent (sensitive), gentle and practical. She wanted the app to be gentle and sensitive, so that other women would feel safe, comfortable and calm while using it. The app is available for free on the Apple Appstore, although it is not yet available on Android. Its desktop version is on sistersignal.org. The main concept of the app is to send a message called girl-code. By pressing the Safety tab present in the app just once, it sends a message to at least five friends or relatives of the user, who are called Trusted Circle in the app. The message goes like this: I’m on a date and things are getting a little awkward… Keep asking how I’m doing and calling every 15 minutes. If I don’t pick up the phone, come immediately to my house or the sent location. If seen, this app is creating such a community where people can take care of each other. Just as the Sister Signal app provides support and resources, we need to create something in India that takes early signs of danger seriously, strengthens our safety systems, and ensures that women in crisis get help and resources, without judgment or questioning. Technology can provide a solution that is right for everyone. The point is that now the focus will be on those IT giants who can identify such problems emerging in the world and find concrete solutions through technology!
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N. Raghuraman’s column: Identify global problems and find solutions through technology
