Sexual assault month and the way forward
Recently, I attended an event aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in the feminist movement.
The discussions mainly revolved around the progress made so far, and ways to improve the spaces women occupy.
A crucial takeaway for me was the pressing need to address women’s safety, which emerged prominently from various interactions.
Despite this conversation being held in numerous settings, it underscored the significant gap that still exists between women’s safety and the actions men can take to improve it.
The timing of this discussion coincided with April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
It prompted discussions about the changes women from diverse backgrounds would like to see, particularly in Namibia, where the incidence of sexual assault against women, and a certain percentage of men, continues to rise.
A pertinent question raised was whether the reported statistics reflect a rapid increase in incidents or simply a greater willingness to report such crimes, which would be a commendable shift.
Traditionally, the culture of safeguarding family honour has perpetuated a reluctance to address sexual assault, especially in cases where the perpetrator holds a position of authority or respect within the community.
Progressive dialogue acknowledged how these traditional norms hindered justice for victims within households.
It’s essential to recognise that those responsible for the care of minors and affected victims often lacked awareness and needed to undergo a process of decolonisation and unlearning to prioritise reporting sexual assault.
The establishment of Sexual Assault Awareness Month serves to honour advocates, survivors, and their supporters, providing a platform for open dialogue to raise awareness, offer support and identify strategies to prevent sexual violence.
This initiative encourages survivors to share their experiences in safe environments free from societal judgment, fostering a sense of community among survivors.
However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the existence of these spaces doesn’t imply comprehensive knowledge about sexual assault.
There’s still ample room for improvement, especially in communities where traditional norms inhibit discussions about assault or rape.
It’s heartbreaking to note that statistically, out of every three women, one or two have experienced sexual assault.
For those lacking awareness about sexual assault, I urge you to educate yourselves.
For survivors of assault, please know that you are not alone. Some people care and are ready to support you through this challenging journey.
Reporting the assault is an important step towards seeking justice and healing.
*Frieda Mukufa’s lifestyle section concentrates on womenrelated issues and parenting bi-weekly in the New Era newspaper. She also specialises in editing research proposals, proofreading as well as content-creation. etuholefrieda@gmail. com