The upsurge of RAPE in our society
What we must find disturbing is the unfortunate news of rape making rounds in our National Dailies. Rape, an unlawful sexual activity and usually intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female (male in other instances) or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent, is as much a crime as murder, robbery or other. And there is absolutely no excuse or justification for anyone to carry it out.
What is sad is the fact that the most affected are children between 5 and 13 years old. (This is not to say that grown ups don't get raped). These are children whose innocence is stolen from them by grownups (men and women) who are expected to know better than to turn the youngest crop of our generation into victims. The untold physical and psychological trauma that these children are made to endure is beyond me. Worst of all is the fact that the society is not doing enough to cub the situation. There are many cases where victims are forced into silence by parents and relations who tell them to hush it when they report that someone has violated them. Don't let the neighbours hear it syndrome. The weight of the experience alone is often so great and damaging, not to mention the stigma that accompanies these children, reinforced by neighbours and other family members who are supposed to protect these children. Most people go as far as blaming the victims. A stereotype idea that when someone gets raped, that someone must have caused it. Sometimes people outrightly defend the perpetrators of the act, claiming that this or that person could not have possibly done it. What sort of society do we live in?
Recently, we had a panel discussion on RAPE, at the Sevhage Literary Festival 2015. Theme “Making Words Counts” in Makurdi, Benue State, organized by Sevhage Literary and Development Initiative and its partners. We came to the painful realization, afresh, that the Legal system is not doing enough either. We are optimistic about the stance adopted by the present administration in regards to jail term and financial claims, but still, every member of the society must take up the fight against rape. Our message must be clear.
What is sad is the fact that the most affected are children between 5 and 13 years old. (This is not to say that grown ups don't get raped). These are children whose innocence is stolen from them by grownups (men and women) who are expected to know better than to turn the youngest crop of our generation into victims. The untold physical and psychological trauma that these children are made to endure is beyond me. Worst of all is the fact that the society is not doing enough to cub the situation. There are many cases where victims are forced into silence by parents and relations who tell them to hush it when they report that someone has violated them. Don't let the neighbours hear it syndrome. The weight of the experience alone is often so great and damaging, not to mention the stigma that accompanies these children, reinforced by neighbours and other family members who are supposed to protect these children. Most people go as far as blaming the victims. A stereotype idea that when someone gets raped, that someone must have caused it. Sometimes people outrightly defend the perpetrators of the act, claiming that this or that person could not have possibly done it. What sort of society do we live in?
Recently, we had a panel discussion on RAPE, at the Sevhage Literary Festival 2015. Theme “Making Words Counts” in Makurdi, Benue State, organized by Sevhage Literary and Development Initiative and its partners. We came to the painful realization, afresh, that the Legal system is not doing enough either. We are optimistic about the stance adopted by the present administration in regards to jail term and financial claims, but still, every member of the society must take up the fight against rape. Our message must be clear.