On November 25, the world will observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The 2019 theme is “‘Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape’. Like in previous years, this year’s International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2019…International Human Rights Day” (UN).
Pope Francis has decried this global pandemic, violence against women, and urges us to combat “the many situations of violence that are kept quiet behind so many walls” by “calling for legislation and a culture that repudiates every form of violence”. Para 2356 of the Catholic Catechism states: “Rape is the forcible violation of the sexual intimacy of another person. It does injury to justice and charity. Rape deeply wounds the respect, freedom, and physical and moral integrity to which every person has a right. It causes grave damage that can mark the victim for life. It is always an intrinsically evil act.”
A UN Women report states: “Rape is a severely under-reported crime with surveys showing…up to 91.6% of rapes going unreported. Prevalence of reasons for not reporting rape differ across countries. They may include fear of retaliation, uncertainty about whether a crime was committed or if the offender intended harm, not wanting others to know about the rape, not wanting the offender to get in trouble, fear of prosecution (e.g. due to laws against premarital sex), and doubt in local law enforcement.”
While men are among those who are raped, rape affects women disproportionately. In her book, “To Report Or Not To Report: Survivor Testimony of the (In)Justice System”, Emily Jacob shares a collection of testimonies written by rape survivors. “Some of them decided to report what had happened to them, and some of them didn’t… Most people assume that survivors, like myself, would report what had happened to them – or even, that it is our responsibility to report it. And often, that is our only real motivation for reporting: that sense of obligation to the others who might come after us. Of the reported cases that go to court, the odds are still in favour of a ‘not guilty’ verdict. Of the 97,000 rapes that happen every year, less than 6% will end in a conviction.”
Over the years I have assisted, in a variety of ways, a number of women and girls who have been raped. Each time I recollect the trauma they experienced, physically, emotionally and sexually, something wells up within me that makes me even more determined to rid the world of this grave evil. We are all diminished/dehumanised by violence against women/girls. Former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, rightly said that: “Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue.”
One of the most tragic issues facing those who have been raped is victim blaming. As Cassandra Pinaire and Kathryn Sperry said in their study on courtroom strategies to enhance the credibility of rape victims: “Victim blame in cases of sexual assault has serious ramifications, including victims’ fears of reporting a rape incident… and dropped cases in which the victim was engaged in ‘risky’ behaviours… In the event a case actually makes it to trial, victim blame also leads to reduced victim credibility and fewer convictions… Furthermore, victims of sexual assault often blame themselves, which exacerbates the negative health consequences of victim blame. Self-blame leads to chronic depression… and increased risk of revictimisation…perhaps the use of expert testimony can provide a glimmer of hope for the blamed rape victim.”
It’s time to get out of our comfort zones and get involved in counter-cultural advocacy, if we are to change cultural and social norms that support violence. We can no longer stand on the sidelines and ignore the constant violation of human dignity. Rape is part of human trafficking and modern day slavery. Let’s address rape reform in law and practice; support victims of such violence and play our part in building a culture of life, love and mutual respect; mobilise the media in efforts to eliminate such violence; address issues relating to the socialisation of boys and girls; promote values/conscience formation and citizenship programmes. For Rape Crisis Society’s hotline, ring: 627 7273. Violence is not part of God’s plan for humanity.
