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Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls: A Necessity
November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Theme of this third Issue of the
Sexuality in Africa Magazine is Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa. Through this issue of the
Sexuality in Africa Magazine, the ARSRC wishes to join the international community and the growing numbers of African civil society organizations in the fight against violence and specifically, gender-based violence.
Millions of African women and girls are victims or survivors of violence. Sexual violence is arguably one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women and girls. Statistics on the frequency and severity of the issues are certainly scanty and artificially hide the scale of the problem.
In South Africa, rape is said to be rampant and four women are said to be killed every day by their intimate partners. In Nigeria hundreds of children and girls are trafficked every year while the odious practice of acid baths still continues. Many children are still being married off in several African countries. All the reports around Africa point to the same conclusion: Women and girls have been unacceptably subjected to violence in such a way that both private and public places are not any safer.
Sexual harassment is another form of violence against women and girls. Unlike sexual assault, rape or child marriages, sexual harassment is hardly documented. Tragically, sexual violence has a woman's face and it is not surprising that HIV/AIDS is affecting more females than males.
Violence against women, girls and children is not acceptable and is indeed detrimental to the continent's social development effort.
The strong correlation between sexuality and the domestic or private sphere should not hide the fact that sexual assault and sexual violence take place in public places and in the workplace. Public places and workplaces are becoming increasingly more insecure for girls and women. This is largely because very few institutions and organization have clear policies or guidelines on sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence.
Increasing urbanization has also tended to increase the occurrence of sexual violence through the multiplicity of sexuality discourses and moralities. It appears that reaction to insecurity and frustration is the control of women's sexuality.
While sexual violence is part of gender-based violence, we should not deny the existence of intra-gender sexual violence. Same-sex sexual relationships do exist. Same-sex sexual relationships may also experience sexual violence. Unless this fact is recognized and steps are taken to promote responsible, respectful and healthy sexuality, we will undoubtedly fail many young girls and boys.
It is time for action. While the role of the states and authorities is paramount, it is also important for private and public institutions and organizations to join the fight by at least designing and implementing policies or guidelines to respond to sexual abuse and violence when they occur in the workplace, schools and other contexts.
Richmond Tiemoko, Ph.D.
Director, Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre
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