When does it end?

BY CHISOM J. OMEOKACHIE

Nigerian women live in fear and apprehension every day of their lives. At a young age, we are taught to cover up so as not to attract men, stay inside so as not to attract men, do not go out at night so as not become a victim- We follow these rules but we still end up victims- when does it end?

While there are no accurate data on the rape cases in Nigeria, UNICEF reported in 2015 that 1 in 4 girls in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.

According to the UN, Approximately 15 million adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19) worldwide have experienced forced sex (forced sexual intercourse or other sexual acts) at some point in their life.

“Cover up, do not show skin or dress provocatively so that you won’t lure the men” but the little baby girl who can’t walk yet, the hijabi and the elderly woman who can barely stand up straight got raped too- when does it end?

Nowhere is safe. Not your home, not your classroom, not your workplace, not the market, not the church nor the mosque, not even visiting male friends. No time of the day is safe- not daytime, not nighttime. When does it end? This is no way to live.

It doesn’t matter what we wear, where we go, who we are with or what time of the day it is. No woman is safe. Hashtags after hashtags, social media campaigns after the other, protests after protests, victim after victim, when does it end?

The study by Kilpatrick “the aftermath of rape: recent empirical findings” found that 31% of rape victims develop PTSD and 45% of rape victims become moderately or severely depressed and suicidal. These victims experience sleeping disorders, eating disorders, dissociation, panic attacks, substance abuse- when does it end?

Our society has a glorified rape culture and it is inherent in every aspect of our lives. We see it every day, we experience it every day and sadly, we have normalized it. From boys trying to “tap current” in secondary schools, to university boys drugging drinks of their female counterparts, to market men inappropriately touching female shoppers and comedians making distasteful skits and jokes about sexual harassment and rape.

In Nigeria, victims of rape and sexual assault do not report their cases due to the following reasons: fear of police extortion and a lack of trust in the judicial process, inadequate support systems, shame, fear or risk of retaliation, fear or risk of being blamed, fear or risk of not being believed, fear or risk of being mistreated and/or socially ostracized. Victims are blamed for their dressing, being at the wrong place at the wrong time or accused of making up claims of rape by the police. When does it end?

And because most victims are not reporting their rape cases, they are not getting the necessary medical attention to prevent diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

We all have a role to play in the fight against sexual abuse and rape of women in our society. We must provide a safe space for victims to be able to speak up and report their rapists and abusers. We must hold our friends and brothers accountable, we must stand and speak up against injustice. We must continue to create awareness and educate our people about the evil and gross human rights violation that is rape.

And while we must continue to talk about all the preventive measures and self-defense tactics for women and teaching boys to do better, it will never be enough. Until there are clear and undisputed repercussions to violence against women, it will keep happening. Until we start seeing perpetrators in handcuffs and behind bars, nothing will change.

In Nigeria and everywhere around the world, rape cases are severely underreported. In 2017, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics reported that 2,279 cases of rape and indecent assault were reported and 0 convictions were reported by the police.

In the US according to the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Justice Department, out of every 1000 cases of sexual assault, only 230 (23%) are reported to the police.

In the United Kingdom, official statistics on sexual violence released by the Ministry of Justice, Office for National Statistics, and Home Office revealed that only about 15% of people who experience sexual assault report to the police. About 0.7% of rapes and attempted rapes end with a felony conviction for the perpetrator.

We need our politicians, leaders and lawmakers to be on our side. We need to know that our lives and safety is a priority to our leaders. We need to see policies and laws against sexual harassment, rape and abuse strengthened and put into effect. We demand a total overhaul of our law enforcement agencies and judicial system. The Nigeria police need to be adequately enlightened and empowered in order to be able to protect and defend our people. Until people begin to understand that they will get punished for sexual harassment, sexual abuse and rape against women, nothing will change.

As long as women’s rights and freedom remain unaddressed, nothing will change. Until our justice system stands up in the defense and protection of our girls and women, Nigerian women will continue to live in fear and apprehension.

Chisomomeokachie@gmail.com