Swati Maliwal
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Former Chairperson Delhi Commission for Women
Delhi's Daughter, Your Voice!
Honest. Humble. Fearless.
About
Learn more about Swati Maliwal - her activism and political journey.
Member of Parliament
Swati Maliwal was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in January 2024.
As a Member of Parliament, she has been an outspoken advocate for key issues affecting the people of Delhi including the cleaning of the Yamuna, access to safe drinking water, strengthening of government hospitals, and the upgradation of roads and public infrastructure across the capital.
Early Life
Born on October 15, 1984, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Swati Maliwal completed her schooling at Amity International School and earned a degree in Information Technology from JSS Academy of Technical Education. At just 21, she chose to leave a promising corporate career to join the NGO Parivartan, marking the beginning of her journey as a social activist and changemaker.
Becoming an Activist
Over the next seven years, Maliwal devoted herself to voluntary work with Parivartan, an NGO founded by Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and others, where she tackled issues such as poverty, corruption, and gender inequality in slum communities.
In 2008, at the age of 24, she ventured alone into flood-stricken Bihar, where her efforts resulted in the establishment of several relief centers. She spent over four months in the region, providing critical assistance.
Youngest core committee member, India Against Corruption
Recognizing her emerging leadership skills, she became part of the 23-member core committee of the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011.
Her courage was further demonstrated during the Nirbhaya protests, where she faced brutal police aggression while advocating for stricter rape laws. This incident underscored her personal sacrifice and unwavering commitment to justice for survivors of sexual assault.
Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW)
Revamping DCW
Swati Maliwal became Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in July 2015. Through her relentless passion, determination, out-of-the-box strategies, and most importantly, courage, she emerged as one of the strongest voices in the country advocating for the rights and welfare of women and children.
During her eight-year tenure as Chairperson from 2015 to 2024, Swati Maliwal led the DCW in addressing:
- 170,000+ cases related to domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, Cyber Crime etc
- Rescued 2,500+ women & children from trafficking, child marriage, and illegal confinement
- 40 Lakh + calls handled by 181 Women's Helpline
- Facilitated 200,000+ court hearings
- Assisted in filing 30,000+ FIRs related to sexual assault
- Organised 50,000+ Mahila Panchayats meetings
- 2.5 Lakh ground visits through the Mobile Helpline Program
Played significant role in passage of amendment in Juvenile Justice Act
Swati Maliwal demonstrated herself as a formidable force with her extensive grassroots experience, which endowed her with practical wisdom beyond academic qualifications. She was a key advocate for the passage of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which allowed minors aged 16-18 to be tried as adults in the case of heinous crimes.
In 2016, following a petition by the DCW, the Delhi High Court directed all police stations in Delhi to install CCTV cameras on their premises. Later that year, the Delhi High Court's directive led to the formation of a special task force on women's safety in Delhi. In 2017, at the commission's request, Delhi police officers were asked to wear body cameras while on duty to improve accountability and reduce misconduct.
Rape Roko Movement
In response to the brutal rape of an eight-month-old girl in Delhi, DCW launched the “Rape Roko” movement to galvanize public action against sexual violence. The campaign drew massive support from citizens, professionals, and public figures including the Indian Medical Association, Delhi Bar associations, and Bollywood celebrities like Farhan Akhtar and Shatrughan Sinha. Within 30 days, 5.5 lakh people wrote to the Prime Minister demanding time-bound death penalties for child rapists, and 15,000 citizens joined a human chain demonstration as a part of “Rape Roko Movement”.
Mahila Suraksha Yatra
To raise awareness on women’s safety and strengthen community engagement, DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal led a 13-day padyatra across Delhi during peak winter. The Yatra covered 330 km, witnessed a remarkable gathering of 5,000+ women, and involved night stays in slums, enabling direct interaction with grassroots communities.
Anshan
In 2018, after brutal rape incidents involving two minor girls in Delhi and Kashmir, Ms. Maliwal initiated a "fast unto death" to advocate for stringent laws and fast-track courts to address child rape. After ten days of consuming only water, she ended her fast when the Central Government passed an ordinance accepting most of her demands.
The following year, in 2019, in response to another heinous gang rape, she went on a 13-day hunger strike, demanding better implementation of laws, increased police personnel, and the digitization of police forces in the capital. She was hospitalized due to health issues on the 13th day.
Visit to war torn Manipur
In May 2023, when violent ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur, Swati Maliwal took a proactive stance, defying protocol and visiting the region alone. She filed a comprehensive report on crimes against women and submitted it to national authorities, urging them to take action. Her visit prompted other national-level leaders to acknowledge the crisis and visit the region.
Wrestler's Protest
In 2023, when female wrestlers, including Olympic champions, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Singh, the former President of the Wrestling Federation of India and a sitting parliamentarian, Ms. Maliwal emerged as a courageous advocate. Despite the considerable influence of the accused, she supported the wrestlers’ protest for justice. Even when manhandled by the police and detained overnight, Ms. Maliwal rejoined the protest the next morning to amplify their voices.
Threats and Backlash
Throughout her tenure at the DCW, Ms. Maliwal confronted powerful individuals and faced numerous threats, vilification campaigns, and intimidation. Her challenge against the criminal "god-man" Ram Rahim and her opposition to his frequent releases from prison resulted in rape threats.
In 2017, after exposing a major illegal drug and alcohol racket, a female volunteer was brutally attacked, and Ms. Maliwal herself faced threats. Despite these challenges, she remained steadfast in her commitment to women's rights.
Ms. Maliwal's residence was also attacked in 2022, causing trauma and displacement.
