Raise your voice, Spread Awareness, And Drive change! To Create a Sustainable Future for Women

 

Raise your voice, Spread Awareness, And Drive change! To Create a Sustainable Future for Women

“The change I want to see is a start-up environment where everyone, regardless of gender and background, feels welcome and safe; where sexual harassment or discrimination will not impede great talent from producing great impact.” - Christine Tsai

Any form of undesirable verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature to hurt a female or violate the dignity of a woman is defined as sexual harassment. High harassment cases have been reported worldwide. According to recent statistics by World Population Review, about 35% of women have experienced different forms of sexual harassment such as physical sexual harassment, verbal sexual harassment, and visual sexual harassment. Some countries have high rates of rape.  A local human rights organization Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK) in Bangladesh has speculated that during the year 2021- 2023, 11,682 rape incidents are testified including gang-rapes. In India, the number of rape cases has reached 22,172. While in Pakistan, sexual violence against women including rape and sexual harassment has highly increased. The issue of sexual violence has become a significant issue that needs a concrete solution.

 Global Gender Gap Index, 2024 has issued a recent report highlighting that Pakistan is ranked 145th out of 146 countries which shows the severity of rape issues in various cities. Lahore and Faisalabad have the greatest incidence of violence against women in the year 2023. The highest number of rape cases happened in Faisalabad was 6,624, followed by 728 rape incidents in Lahore. Consequently, the life and dignity of women are not safe as rape cases take place after every 45 minutes.

 It is still challenging to curb this rising menace as women around the world are continuously suffering from sexual assault. For instance, the ruthless rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a government hospital in Kolkata has led to an outpouring of rage and anger in the masses against the persisting sexual abuse and atrocities against females. NGO’s and human rights organizations continue to hold demonstrations, asserting government to seize culprits and the court should give extreme punishment. Moreover, they want the Act should be strictly promulgated to ensure the safety of healthcare practitioners and workers.

 Despite that United Nations (U.N.) Millennium Goals have urged all global countries to take initiatives to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, yet two-thirds of the developing world has still not achieved women's equality. Women are constantly facing gender inequality and harassment issues in public places, workplaces, and educational institutes. Condemning the physical abuse towards womenfolk, women organizations across the globe have raised their voices. They believe that severe sexualized violence has reached epidemic proportions. Whether it is rape incidents occurring in a government hospital in Kolkata, India or abduction and rape cases of many teenage girls happening in place of work or educational institutes in Pakistan, molestation, gang rape, and other forms of offensive sexual advances have considerably risen globally.

 Living in a typically male-oriented society in Pakistan, ruthless men consider a woman a symbol of property that can be touched and misused as they like or harass women to fulfill their sexual needs. The offensive behaviors also include intimidation through looks, undesirable gestures, or using discriminatory comments to develop fear and insecurity in young girls.

Causes of Rape

To know the real causes of the prevalence of rape crime, people should look at the issue from various perspectives. Each rapist has a different behavior and circumstances to commit the crime. For instance, anger rape takes place when a rapist uses brutality to express anger. Their rage behavior hurt the victim.  Power rape refers to an attacker’s offensive behavior who has no intention to harm the victim. Instead, he wants to own a girl sexually. Therefore, he uses force to sexually assault the girl. Another behavior is sadistic rape. The offender uses both sexuality and aggression to abuse a woman. The rapist gets satisfaction from abusing, and humiliating the girl.

Sexual harassment cases such as increasing rape cases in the workplace are terrifying for women. It is normally observed that professional office girls working in different sectors wear fashionable outfits, such as wearing short revealing dresses and properly fitted garments that objectify women's bodies. These glamorous clothes attract men and stimulate them to exhibit aggressive behaviors such as unwelcome sexual advances done through force, threat, or pressure.

 Gender roles and values are learned at an early age at home, school, and through social environment. Young boys aged 5 to 9 years observe adults' appearances, activities, and behaviors. The harsh behavior of fathers tarnishes their personality and self-esteem. Resultantly, they develop negative traits, gender rigidity, and aggressive behaviors. College students from broken families such as parents living with marital conflicts, divorced or estranged from each other adopt negative stereotypical gender roles. As children internalize the negative behaviors, their personality gets influenced by the atrocious environment they are brought up. Consequently, it leads to adverse effects of stereotyping on their physical and intellectual competence.

The other common reasons observed for a high rate of rate crime are environmental factors such as toxic friendships, unsafe neighborhoods involved with antisocial behavior, and violent acts. Moreover, association with social groups also tends to victimize young boys provoking them towards committing physical abuse with women. Social media sites cause internet-related sex crimes such as physical abuse cases.  A group of male gangsters visit internet sites, including social media where teenage girls openly post their personal information. It includes online profiles, posts, and comments on online sites. The offenders start their interactions with the targeted victims through chat. They do comments on the posts, like and share their posts, and also check friend contact lists. Once, rapists develop familiarity and understanding with the victimized girl, they trap her in meetings. They choose a vulnerable place and use force and violence to sexually assault them.

Sexual assault and related traumas happen due to prevailing social issues. Unemployed young individuals having no income opportunities and social benefits develop dysfunctional behavior including depression and mental disorders. Reducing earning power causes serious implications such as getting involved in antisocial activities including abducting and sexually abusing females.

 

 How to Prevent Sexual Assault in Society?

 

 Sexual violence including rape against women has extensively increased. The alarming rate of sexual abuse cases has triggered NGO’s and Women associations to speak up and address the issues on the social media platform. Women's rights organizations have created awareness among women, allowing them to know how to prevent themselves from physical abuse. The initial step is to report the rape case that happened in the workplace, educational institute, or public spaces.

Regarding the prevention of sexual abuse in the workplace and educational institutions in Pakistan, the HR department and higher authorities have taken necessary initiatives to educate and inform students and employees about harassment behavior.  Female students and staff are encouraged to report harassment cases to HR and the admin department.

To strongly combat the rape menace, harassment policies have been reviewed regularly by companies and educational institutions. The executives, managers, and employees are educated about the more subtle forms of sexual harassment through harassment training. The program reinforces the organization to adopt a positive approach and engage employees in nurturing a respectful culture in the workplace. The cordial environment allows staff members to understand workplace ethics.

Women's rights organizations have urged that young girls and especially boys in higher education institutes should be provided with comprehensive sex education. It includes keeping unnecessary physical contact and knowing about maintaining a safe and positive relationship. Teenage girls and boys should be motivated to discuss ethical issues such as sex culture. Engaging in positive and healthy communication about sexuality helps them know their individual identity and sexual interests.

More rigorous strategies have been implemented at workplaces, universities, and colleges and the management has ensured that such unethical behavior will not be tolerated. The culprits will face harsh punishment and heavy charges according to the Harassment Act promulgated by the government of Pakistan.   

 Humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have aligned worldwide organizational policies, and practices with United Nations approaches to prevent sexual exploitation against women. OCHA offices at headquarters, regional, and country levels have initiated country-wide advocacy, awareness programs, and other concrete measures to curb the rising sexual violence and discrimination against women.

 Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)  in association with the UNO protection policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)   have taken strong initiatives to work together to build a safer aid system for the social well-being of women. The advocacy program includes encouraging community members to share their physical harassment experiences and challenges. The experts provide recommendations to prevent sexual abuse in the workplace. Countrywide campaigns also include organizing webinars, and conferences emphasizing the need to grow awareness in young people regarding sexual assault and adopt strict measures to reduce sexual abuse and harassment incidences.

On the global level, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has developed a policy on the prevention of sexual harassment, abuse, and discrimination. The UNFPA Policy on harassment has established a network of workplace facilitators and partner organizations that address sexual exploitation and abuse across the international level. The advocacy program is currently running in 12 countries. The program expresses the principle of zero tolerance for various crimes, including sexual exploitation and abuse.

 

Another initiative is taken by WHO and UN Women with certification from 12 other UN and bilateral agencies. Working in collaboration they have established a strong framework known as RESPECT women. The aim is to prevent physical abuse and violence against women and promote the social and economic well-being of women. The framework supports women from all over the world, providing them with social empowerment and psychosocial support to help them lead a better quality of life.

To bring radical changes in society, the global states, women's organizations, and NGOs should collaborate and promulgate effective legislation, laws, and policies that impose harsh punishments for adultery and rape. The laws ensure the safety and protection of women against physical assault. Provide support to victimized women by making easy access to legal laws to seek justice.

As physical abuse and rape incidents have become a global issue, the government of Pakistan has taken serious measures to tackle the harassment and rape cases at educational institutions and workplaces. Initiatives have been taken to improve the existing rape laws.  The Women’s Protection Act was earlier reformed, the law reconsidered various factors causing rape and addressed a broader range of sexual offenses. More practical and resourceful legislation is required that prevents physical abuse and brings equitable adjustment of social and economic rights of women in the workplace and society.

Summing up

There is a dire need to develop awareness in young women and men regarding the causes that lead to physical harassment and rape.  Instead of living in silence and fear, women are required to speak up against the physical violence and harassment they face in the workplace, universities, and colleges. Let’s join hands and take action to eliminate physical harassment from workplaces, communities, and institutions.  A strong and resilient role of women's groups and organizations has emerged as a hope for women, encouraging them to raise their voices against social injustice. Moreover, their continuous efforts have urged the government to stop physical harassment in public places and organizations and ensure the safety, and well-being of women.