RAPE: A SONG THAT MAY FOREVER BE SUNG

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BY: OLU OLOLADE

You are at work. You pick your phone to catch up on the news and the first headline that you see reads: MAN RAPES FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. You sympathize with her plight and make some quick comments. You get home; turn on the television and the newscaster reads: HOUSE HELP RAPES THIRTEEN YEAR OLD BOY. The first comment you make is “Not again!” You are probably not the only one who made such comment. Thousands of others are too.

The issue of rape is everywhere and everyone condemns it but somehow it appears like a bottomless pit which we may never see the end. Preachers and teachers, at a certain point or the other, spoke and taught on one of the most evil thing plaguing our society- rape. Seminars have been held and many NGOs have taken it as a core responsibility to put an end to this trend. However, it is sad that these efforts only look as though they are not paying off. Why?

It is important to note that the orientation of people on rape is poor. First, very many people think rape is a sexual act with the use of physical force. No, it is not. Rape is sex without consent. The fact that the perpetrator did not use physical force does not mean the victim was not raped. Force is not always physical. The Perpetrator may use emotional coercion, psychological force, or manipulation to coerce the victim into non-consensual sex. Some may use threats to force a victim to comply or taking advantage of the victim under the influence of alcohol. Sadly, many people do not know this, they therefore write off a rape case since physical force was not involved.

The major reason rape may forever be a social concern is the attitude of people towards it. We live in a society where people talk, rant and then forget. Very many people have addressed extensively the subject of rape and very many people have openly condemned it but the sad thing is that it all ends there. People do not go further to ensure that the victims get justice and the offender is made to face the law. Although some NGOs and other organizations make it a point of duty to ensure that the victim gets justice, people still need to do more.

The justice system in Nigeria also contributes to the unending stories of rape cases. Imagine a situation where everyone tries to get justice for a victim and eventually hand the offender over to the appropriate authorities. However, the offender is granted bail and eventually left to roam the streets as a freeman because somehow, he is able to bribe his way out. How frustrating can that is! It therefore becomes difficult to report cases of rape which is of course a way of letting the offender get away with his crimes and repeating the vicious circle.

The most disturbing of these reasons is trying to protect the rapist. This is common in cases of incestuous rape, particularly among women who claim to be protecting their marriage and family. In an African society where a man is seen as “lord” over all and women are subjugated in all sort of ways, it becomes difficult for a woman to speak “against” her husband. Instead, the victim is condemned. There have been cases where a minor is raped by a family member and when it is reported, he/she asked to keep it a secret or even accused of being possessed by a demon. It is therefore not surprising to hear that a man picks on one of his daughters. That thing called “protection” has birthed many unending cases of rape and may birth more. A rapist should be exposed and punished regardless of who he or she is. They should not be protected, they have lost the right.

Victim blaming and silencing is another issue to be dealt with urgently. A lady is raped and the only thing some people can do about the situation is blame the victim for what she (mostly females) was putting on or how she positioned herself. It is alarming. It brings no good and only shuts the victims from seeking justice, prevents other victims from speaking out since no one would believe their stories, encouraging the perpetrator, and preventing justice.

It is clear that the society has contributed to the vicious circle of rape more that it has fought to break it. If these practices go on, victims may never speak out again. We will then be living in a society where we think all is well but ninety percent are broken!

 

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