Sexual Violence – Report and Bust the Devil

Sexual violence is another term given to inhuman act of humans themselves towards their own species. I was not surprised when I learned that only 1 out of 100 women who face sexual violence every report it to the police. (National Family Health Survey (2005-06)).

What stops us to raise our voice against the crime? Why do we not report these cases? There is however one question more important than this and must be written or asked in bold letter or louder voice – “Why is it important to encourage reporting sexual violence?”

I gave a deep thought and came up with my own answer to the question:

1. We want our children to become humans

It is very rightly (to a great extent) said that home is the biggest school and children learn the lessons of life from their parents rather than their teachers. From centuries, many young and innocent minds have inherited the art of respecting or did-respecting women around them from their immediate family members. Sons take no time to become the actual figure from mere shadows of their fathers. Daughters often learn to live the life as their mothers lived - with some amendments owing to present generation.

He called her name

He slapped her to tame

He pulled her hair to room

The son is too small

The son would be afraid

He shut her woes

The son heard her crying

He lied to them

He threatened them

He abused them

He hit them!

He learned from him

The little boy who witnessed everything right form his childhood many times take the same route and parents are reminded of the popular saying – ‘As you sow, so shall you reap!

2. We want to make a difference

A child would never learn to walk if she does not overcome the internal fear of falling down. Once a child takes that first step forward, walking becomes just another natural trait for her. Similarly, I believe that if we do not try and report sexual violence or any such activity, we would never be able to put the laws to our good use. Till that day, we would live under same illusion of fear that ‘if I do this, I might face these consequences’. I agree the path is generally very rocky and full of hurdles, but then, the fruit thus received is worth the pride.

The day we start reporting more and more of them, is the day we make sure that we are aware of our rights and thus, that is the day we would take first and only step to ‘Equality’.

3. Sexual Violence should be reported

I find no reason convincing enough to ‘not’ to raise voices against sexual violence. The only method one can make sure that the voice risen in thus heard is by reporting them. Thus it is important to encourage reporting sexual violence because ‘It is important to report sexual violence’.

 If the above reasons are not good enough to encourage reporting sexual violence, following facts from law might prove motivating:

Snapshot source

Let’s take the first step to encouragement by making them aware of the basics. To do my bit, I would bring up the above points on some of the safety session I have in office. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the word.

Did you take your step?

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