Times Of Swaziland: FEMALES HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEM IN ESWATINI

FEMALES HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEM IN ESWATINI
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Editor on 17/08/2022 08:53:00


Sir,
We have a serious problem as females in this country. Young and old are victims
of sexual abuse and harassment, and too many people have come to accept it
because they believe they are powerless. They live with the trauma and shame.
Sadly, poverty and deprivation continue to enable more men to take advantage of
women because they seemingly acquiescence their actions as mutual exchange.
Unfortunately, far too many women are disadvantaged from the onset due to lack
of basic needs and as a result they are exploited by opportunistic men who
initiate younger girls to sexual activities.
Deny
Of course many men will deny that they ever participated in such predatory
crimes, but statistics say otherwise. Some of these men claim to be family men
of good standing and are religious. This is all a ruse, as you scratch the
surface. Girls who experience these atrocities become damaged as adults and are
unable to make connections between normal and exploitative relationships; so
they become properties to be used and discarded. Of course there are many men
who do not see any harm in this but none of them would wish this to happen on
their own children. Weak sanctions against perpetrators have been identified as
being contributing factors. Two thirds of girls in Eswatini have encountered
sexual harassment or violence many times over. So the less privileged the woman
is, the more likelihood of sexual harassment. They say the number is far higher
than reported because this crime is mostly under reported simply because it has
become commonplace and no one takes it seriously. In most cases the woman is
blamed as the instigator.
Issues
Seemingly the police are ill-equipped to deal with such sensitive issues, and to
make matters worse, such cases fail to make it to the courts. But if by some
fluke they do, a lenient sentence that does not fit the crime is pronounced. Our
society and government have not taken this epidemic seriously, yet this crime
rests heavily on society. It affects people mentally, physically and
financially. It is no exaggeration but a fact. Eswatini women dearly deserve a
shift and a reduction of the damming and high rate statistics of sexual violence
and assaults. Government should provide opportunities for women and girls. A
compulsory education or training for women to break the cycle of poverty and
dependence, in particular to help and support women gain independence and
confidence, is needed. Men who harass women should be investigated and removed
from society if found guilty.
Harassment
If a woman experiences any form of sexual harassment, it is not your fault,
speak to somebody you know and trust about your experience. Do not keep it a
secret to protect perpetrators. Your life matters and you are stronger than you
think and you will survive this. No one deserves your silence to deal with your
pain, while they continue to commit the same crime over and over again. Being
polite does not mean you have to be subservient and no one should make you feel
uncomfortable. If you don’t give consent, then the person is abusing or
harassing you. That is not acceptable. Be aware of your surroundings and trust
your guts. If you feel uncomfortable, make an excuse and leave. Be emotionally
strong and know yourself. Proper men stand up for women; not what we see lately
in this country.