Gender based violence continues to increase in our society but the most alarming is the silence that accompanies this unholy and barbaric act, meted out mostly against our female folk.
Evidence given by the National Coordinator of the Network against Gender Based Violence, Mr Fallu Sowe, at Fatou Network platform, shows that there are more than 2000 cases of GBV in the last five years, a large percentage of which are rape cases. In reality, there are many more cases of rape unreported because our society seems to shun this, and the victims are mostly afraid to speak out.
Rape has become quite a ‘normal’ phenomenon in our society because we seem to define the concept of rape beyond the realities the victims face. Speaking out openly about any abuse, especially domestic violence or any other form of gender based violence could make the victims to be stigmatised, or even ostracized in a society that defines its values with discrimination against women, making it seem like the religious requirement for women is to be subdued and be subservient.
We should all condemn these barbaric acts and urge our sisters, mothers, daughters to come out and speak against all the violence they are going through. We call on all victims to be strong, as the change might be testing and difficult, but their voices should be loud, resounding and piercing to not only reach out to many, but also to bring hope to those afraid to speak out or to come out so that the vermin in our society will pay for their abominable crimes.
We commend the efforts of the First Lady for supporting a call line for this, but we also need all civil society organisations, religious leaders, community leaders, the youth movements and organisations to speak out and give the courage to those suffering in silence to be able to speak out.
Unless we make these voices heard, many more girls, boys, men and women suffering in silence will continue to be abused and the numbers will forever grow.