THERE is an extremely long list of excuses used to explain away the crimes of sexual violence. We have in many ways become immune to the real damage this crime causes. We have learnt to look the other way when we are uncomfortable speaking out at crimes we see occurring, we have learnt to interrogate and judge the victim as to what she did to cause someone to sexually violate her, we have learnt to excuse the men and women who rape by justifying their actions in one way or another. We have told sexual violators that their crimes are not their fault. We have told victims that they caused their sexual assault. We have ensured that victims feel guilt, shame and shoulder the majority of the blame for what was done to them.
So here are a few questions to get my point across: How do you accept that a man would sexually assault a three month old, a two year old, a six year old, a 12 year old? How do we explain away his attraction to a prepubescent child as something to be over looked and accepted? How do we understand a man engaging in sexual intercourse with a teenager? How do we explain a man/woman forcing himself on a child, young girl/boy, young woman/man, old woman/man? When did we become so callous that the pain and suffering of someone who has been sexually violated is either ignored or accepted? When did we decide that the victim was to blame for a crime committed against him/her?
By this logic; then I should blame the individual whose home is burglarized, whose car is stolen, or the man/woman who is robbed on the street. We should blame the businesses who are held-up and drained of their income by unsuspecting individuals. However, we don’t use this logic when these crimes are committed, we understand that crime occurs and the victim is rarely to blame for crimes committed against them. So I ask another question: why is sexual assault the only crime where the victim is treated like the perpetrator? Why is it that victims of sexual assault are blamed for their assault more often than not and why are we so quick to form excuses for perpetrators of this crime?
What will it take for us to acknowledge that sexual crimes are not to be accepted and explained away? When will we stop saying that he/she was seduced by the infant, child, teenager, woman/man they chose to rape? When will we stop saying that her clothing made him do it? When will we stop saying that her intoxication was her favourable response to any sexual advances? When will we stop expecting a victim to have known that a person she knew and trusted would turn around and assault her? When will her relationship to her abuser, or the fact that she willingly went out with or let him in, stop being a reason for her to be blamed for her sexual assault? When will we stop accepting the continued devaluation of women and children?
For too long women have been used and accepted as property, which perpetuates violence against them. In many communities males believe it is their duty to indoctrinate their daughters into sexual intercourse. Please explain to me how that is something that can firstly be thought of as acceptable but secondly as something that we continuously ignore and do nothing about? How is it that we continue to forsake our sexual assault survivors while continuously supporting their perpetrators? The year is 2017, it is time to stop accepting sexual violence as something to be accepted, it is time we demand more be done, it is time we educate ourselves and our children. Do your part to start addressing sexual violence in St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean. I implore you to become an advocate for survivors of this crime. Please do your part to help address Sexual Violence in St. Lucia.
We, at PROSAF, have acknowledged that violence against women is a problem in St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean. We are here to begin the metamorphosis that is desperately needed. We are always here to listen and if you are not ready to come forward but need a listening ear feel free to contact us. Sexual assault is something that happened to you, it, does not define you. You are worthy of love and happiness. You are a strong, beautiful, intelligent woman who has suffered a trauma through no fault of your own. You are not guilty of any crime, something was done to you against your will. Always remember that you are not alone, that you have nothing to be ashamed of. We are taking the baby steps necessary to make it better for all. KNOW YOU HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP IN PROSAF.
Yours Sincerely,
SouyenneDathorne, Velika Lawrence
Email: [email protected] – [email protected]
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