Rape Culture and Sexual Abuse
In the past few years, there is a drastic increment of rape and sexual harassment cases. Beyond the
boundaries of any religion, every civilisation is facing the awful breach in the norms of its society.
The questions are how and why Rape culture is flourishing in an exponential way? Law against rape
exists but they are doing nothing to prevent rapes. Is there any flaw in the Policies, Laws and
Judiciary? Inertness in the Law and enforcement agencies, rejection to filing the complaints is the
reason? If we look back into the past, our children were used to play on streets, at the neighbours’
house. They are free to outside and enjoy the gathering of relatives at their homes. What was
happened which brought this nasty culture among our society?
World’s Rape statistics 2020
According to World Population Review, It is approximately 35% of women worldwide experienced
some sort of sexual harassment in their life. Women with the age of 16-19 years (teenagers) are 4
times more likely to be victims of Sexual abuse or Rape. Women with the age of 18-24 years (most
of them are College students) are 3 times more likely to experience sexual assault. People with
some disabilities and transgender are twice as likely to be victims of rape and assault sexually.
(Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/).
Statistics of Violence, rape and sexual abuse of the World’s Strongest Country
American being superpower and considers as one of the most Civilised and Refined society, they also
are unable to counter and prevent the wildfire of domestic violence, sexual abuse and growing surge
of rape culture. The statistics are draconian and drastic.
Millions of American suffering from sexual assaults, in every 73 seconds An American is abused
sexually. On Average 433,648 are the victims of sexual abuse and rape. These victims are with the
age of 12 years or older. If we talk about the ratio of women, we came to know that out of 6 women
1 is sexually harassed, raped or attempted to rape.
In 1 out of 10 rape cases, the victims are Males. 3% of American men (1 out of 33) are the victims of
sexual violence (either raped completely or attempted). Transgender are also facing the violence
simultaneously.
Child abuse and is also omnipresent, In Every 9 minute a child is abused or assaulted sexually. 1 out
of 9 and girls and 1 in 53 boys, experienced assault or abused sexually. (Source:
https://www.rainn.org/).
Rape Culture in Pakistan
Rape, sexual assault and child abuse are the unlawful and forbidden activities in Islam. These are
illegal acts in Pakistan too, but facts and figures are telling the other story.
According to the report of The Nation, A women is raped every 2 hours in Pakistan.
The rate of child abuse at the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is deplorable. According to the recent
report, More Boys than Girls victims, of the age of 6-15 years are reported in 2019, the more
shameful is to tell you children at the age of 0-5 years are also sexually abused in Pakistan.
In a single year, 778 Abduction cases, 405 cases of missing children, 348 Sodomy along with 205
Gang sodomy cases, 279 Rape meanwhile 210 attempted rape and 115 Gang rape cases were
reported.
53% cases were reported from province Punjab, 30% from Sindh, 6% cases reported from KPK, 2%
were from Baluchistan. 7% cases were also reported from the Capital of the country “Islamabad”.
The percentage of AJK and GB region is far less than the other regions of the country.
(Source: https://sahil.org/).
Most of the rape cases are went unreported because of victims fear, Shaming, Fear of family
status, reprisal vibes or sometimes cases are not taken seriously by law enforcement teams.
Mostly of rape victims are forced to be silent so as to protect the Honour of the family.
Some instructions for Parents
In Most of the cases of child abuses, the culprits are some relatives, neighbours or close friends.
People with psychopathic and maniacal behaviour use some tactics of threating, or with some toys
and candies to grab the kids. Unfortunately, working parents suffer the most since they can’t look up
their children 24/7.
Here are some signs which may help you to detect the incident
Sexual abuse has profound effect on physical and mental wellbeing. It disturbs the physical
appearance and may cause physical injury with wide range of sexual and reproductive complications.
Here some signs mentioned which may help you to identify the incident happened to children.
Sudden difficulty is walking, problem in sitting, blood scars on undergarments, scars of injury on
body, pain at hidden or private body parts, psychological stress, anti-social behaviour, protesting
or crying when it’s time to go to school, or any particular place, or being watchful all the time,
shying from specific person, running away from home or nightmares, pregnancy (among
unmarried girls) or STD before the age of adolescent.
Factors that elevate the rape culture and violence
There are countless factors which cause and aggravate the sexually maniacal behaviours among
people.
Drugs abuse, Alcoholism, coercive sexual fantasies, attitude and beliefs, Reprisal/ Revenge,
Desperate life style, late marriages, early childhood environment, failure of living in relationship,
Porn Industry, Internet access, Fashion industry, Non-register Madrassa system, child trafficking,
Sexual advance at school or colleges (demand of sex in return of any favour), previous history of
being raped or abused, child abuse often occurs for some sort of websites like dark web and
others, etc.
Consequences of rape, sexual assaults and child abuse
We can’t sweep the truth under the carpet; physical injuries are not always the only outcomes of
rape and sexual abuse. Fatalities associated with it also know to occur besides these there are more
consequences related to social wellbeing, mental health and reproductive disorders among the
victims. Raped and sexually abused victims may face these complications
Pregnancy and gynaecological problems, STD, Suicidal behaviour and attempts , Anti- social
attitude, drug abuse, PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder), Anger, shock, numbness, sense of
vulnerability, fear, loss of control, depression, nightmares etc.
What we can do to prevent Sexual violence
We should educate our children about good touch and bad touch
There should be proper change in educational curriculum
Parents should be guide their children about body transitional and hormonal changes
Parents should visit school, college or Madrassa off and on to retain the check and balance.
We should promote marriage culture
We should have better sense of fashion
Avoid alcohol and drug abuse
Government should banned porn and child trafficking websites
The should strict penalty against these crimes
Psychological care and support
Life skills and other educational activities
Strict amendment and reforms in constitution of Rape, Paedophilia Sexual violence other
harassments activities
Registration of teachers at school, colleges and Maddaris
Community activism
In a conclusion, I just want to tell you that rape culture, child abuse and objectification of women
has become normal to our society, We as a part of this society intentionally or may unintentionally
contributing to the Evil around.
Why we laugh or make sexiest jokes? Why do we think or do things which objectify or sexualize
the certain gender? Why misandry or misogyny exists among the civilised society? Our little laugh,
our thinking pattern and attitude to the other genders is being contributed in the Rape Culture. If
we can’t eliminate the evil, we can prevent it instead.
