SEXUAL TERRORISM: REAL MEN DON'T RAPE; THEY SEDUCE

Nobel Peace Prize winner and environmentalist the late Ms Wangari Maathai

No doubt. Terrorism has been the in-thing of the past decade. We have experienced heightened security changes and enhancements, and crackdowns on suspected terror agents. We have seen parliaments across the globe passing stricter anti-terror legislations and expanding law enforcement powers. 

Even parameters for picking personal friends have changed. All these, we are told, are necessary measures to deal a blow to terrorism and maintain world peace.

But as we fortify our defenses in a bid to thwart terror activities, we have forgotten that there exists an age-old scourge that has refused to die. Sexual terrorism still reigns supreme. It is growing by seconds. Its targets are not national armies, militias or police. It targets the usual suspects - women, girls and boys.

Look, this will leave you tormented. According to UN-Women, a United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, between 15 and 76 percent of women are targeted for physical and/or sexual violence. Surprisingly, most of this violence takes place within intimate relationships (with a majority of them going unreported and/or rarely dealt with by authorities).

Worldwide, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16. An estimated 150 million girls under the age of 18 suffer some form of sexual violence every year. The first sexual experience of some 30 percent of women was forced. The percentage is even higher among those who were under 15 at the time of their sexual initiation, with up to 45 percent reporting that the experience was forced.

Approximately 100 to 140 million girls and women in the world have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting, with more than 3 million girls in Africa annually at risk of the practice. Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides, married before the age of 18, primarily in South Asia (31.3 million) and sub-Saharan Africa (14.1 million). Violence and abuse characterize married life for many of these girls. 

The report further states that women who marry early are more likely to be beaten or threatened, and more likely to believe that a husband might sometimes be justified in beating his wife. 

Women and girls are 80 percent of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually, with the majority (79 percent) trafficked for sexual exploitation. Within countries, many more women and girls are trafficked, often for purposes of sexual exploitation or domestic servitude.

From these statistics, it is evident to deduce that the existential war bedeviling humanity in general and women in particular, is not about guns, bullets and bombs. This war is leaving permanent, painful scars on the soul, body and mind of our mothers, sisters and brothers. 

Still on the same, the World Health Organization lists Africa as one of the most dangerous places for women to live at 36.6 percent  lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence among ever-partnered women and 11.9 percent prevalence rate for non-partner sexual violence.

Frankly speaking, there are serious gaps that must be sealed to alleviate the pain experienced by women, girls and boys - and especially those from poor backgrounds and/or war ravaged countries and/or communities. 

Of great concern is to economically empower these target groups. It is proven that people, countries and/or communities with high economic ranking experience diminished rates of sexual violence and all its connected risks.

It is justly; therefore, to conclude that the more an individual experiences economic improvement, the more s/he becomes aware of his/her rights and modalities to protect them. This in turn leads to reduction of risks associated with sexual violence.

Closely related to this is the issue of maternal and infant deaths arising from absence and/or lack of health personnel, scarce health facilities, mobility to and from hospitals in case of emergencies, and lack of awareness on the importance of maintaining high hygienic standards especially when dealing with infants and mothers. 

Perhaps, it is time we all rise up and say NO to this continued sufferance. And believe you me: It is doable. We can stop maternal and infant deaths. We can put a smile on our mothers' faces. We can bring the needed services closer to them.

And for our young mothers – those arising from teenage pregnancies – it is time we courageously confront the elephant in the room. Most of these unwanted pregnancies are as result of our "permanent and unbended" philosophies blocking us from closely interacting with our children with a view to arming them with useful knowledge on matters sex education and personal etiquette.

To run away from this noble act is, in my opinion, an admission of our lopsided thinking and hypocritical tendencies.

We need to tame our boys and men, and prevail upon them to diverge their energies to other meaningful ventures. At least, to save our girls and women!

And for those who think they can forcefully snatch that fruit from our women and girls, it is better they know this; real men don’t rape, they seduce. And we count on their cooperation to make this planet a peaceful and secure place for all.

Twitter: @mlemukol. Email: lemoseh89@gmail.com.