Bianca Jagger Leads Candle Memorial

At the Plan UK gala of India's Daughter, humanitarian Bianca Jagger led a candle memorial honoring Jyoti Singh. Excerpts from her remarks:

"Tonight we remember Jyoti Singh.

A young woman whose story goes to the very heart of the questions of who we want to be, and what world we want to create.

Rape and sexual assault are endemic in our societies. Globally, 60 million girls are sexually assaulted on their way to school each year.

The attack on Jyoti was more than an horrific attack on an individual – it was an affront to every girl and woman in the world.

An affront to all of humanity.

And in Jyoti’s memory, it is incumbent on all of humanity to respond.

Incumbent on all of us to fight to create the world that we want to see.

A world in which no girl and no woman is abused because of her gender.

A world in which a girl’s life chances are not predetermined from birth.

A world in which a young woman can make a simple trip to the cinema with a friend without risking her life.

The name Jyoti means light.

As her father said – in death, Jyoti lit a torch.

As we’ve seen, that torch was carried by the young people of India, and then the world.

It’s up to us – all of us – to ensure that torch keeps burning.

I’d now like to invite some of my fellow guests this evening to join me on stage for a candle lighting and short moment of reflection.

Please take a moment yourself to think of Jyoti, and of what you can do to ensure that her memory remains a shining light for ever more."