How can sexual violence be prevented?

Can we prevent rape and do rape prevention programmes exist? Well! In fact such programmes are conducted in other parts of the world. The objectives of these programmes vary and are targeted at different audiences. I was therefore wondering if it is perhaps time to introduce such programmes in the Maldives. But, who will be our target audiences? What would be the objectives? Who could conduct them?

Several thoughts bombard my mind as I bang on the keys of this laptop.
If I can have my way, I will focus such programmes at two different levels.

Level one.
In this level I will begin by introducing several short term awareness programmes targeting the following audiences.

1. Prisoners.

I think rape awareness programmes must be initiated in prison (some people will regard this as crazy, but I feel this will be the right place to start such a programme)

But we must acknowledge the challenges involved in introducing any programme to the prisons of Maldives and must first go into a dialogue with the prisoners, as for me, the prison now appears to be an institute which has also produced numerous people with PhD’s (people with ‘permanent head damage’ and they have later graduated to become the drug lords, gang leaders…street soldiers of our country). We must all acknowledge the significance of the role prisoners play in our lives and we cannot dispute that prison history is of amazing relevance…as it has also emerged as the institute of reform process in the country over the years. It is now regarded(ahem!!!) as the place where fight for democracy and human rights originated in the Maldives and so it may be sensible to start any programme of this nature from these prisons.

Returning to the topic, unfortunately prison behaviour in the Maldives has never been scientifically researched so we don’t really know anything about the prison subcultures. Do prison rapes occur between inmates? What is the prevalence of these occurrences? I wonder about the extent of this subculture in our prisons. Does it happen frequently and if so is this behaviour getting generalized?

Perhaps, rape awareness programmes can be initiated in prisons following a small study to examine the prevalence of these behaviours in the prison.

I have a feeling that prison rapes between inmates may be a predominant culture, because I remember seeing such behaviours among the inmates at some of my visits to the prison. I have seen some inmates who put white powder on their face, presumably to signify the female roles they may have adopted (these boys who had tiny physiques had taken this role in comparison to the more masculine stronger males). Perhaps these roles were adopted by the inmates in order to survive in the prison. We must all be aware that various things of this sort can happen in prison.

However, the inmates also have a right to be protected from other prisoners who may sexually violate them in the prison and we must provide them with this security. There is research, which shows the viciousness of the cycle of violence. We must do our best to prevent such rape from happening within the prison and thus prevent it from spreading to the community once these people are released into the society.

NGO’s who are working for the rights of prisoners, or against violence in general can initiate rape awareness programmes with a focus on providing information on sexually transmitted diseases/HIV/AIDS, information on the physical, psychological and legal consequences associated with rape whether in prison or outside. Such awareness programmes should also focus on rehabilitating individuals with skills to break the cycle of violence, and help them foster the belief that violence cannot be a solution to any problem.

2. Women.

Women should be made aware that rape is something which happens in our society and no one is immune to this. It can happen to anyone and while there is no guarantee that it can be prevented even if you follow all the do’s and don’ts that we may specify in a rape prevention programme, by virtue of being given a gender, women will always remain vulnerable to such extreme forms of violence. However, women should be taught to take certain precautions.

Things like going out by themselves to places that are not familiar to themselves, to isolated or abandoned spots should be avoided. From the recent reports of gang rapes what we realize is that girls must not go alone to places where strangers have invited them under suspicious circumstances, especially if the friend or ex friend you are visiting is high on drugs or have a history of drug abuse or history of violence or crime. This should give you all the more reason to take extra caution, if at all, go to these places in the company of responsible adults. Further, if the so called friend has ever treated you or your body with disrespect, or has been violent towards you, it is better to not get further entangled in such relationships.

If at any point of the relationship you have been sexually violated, please do not tolerate such violence. It cannot happen under the garb of love. Do not stay in a violent relationship, because the person who inflicts such violence is just not going to change overnight for the sake of you or because of your tolerance of this violence. Violence and love are not the same.

Seek help. I am sure there are people in the family or among friends who can guide you to safety.

3. Men

It has been reported by several studies that majority of sexual violence is committed by men. In the Maldives, through my practice I have come across several women who have narrated stories of unbearable physical and sexual violence on them. This has happened to them while some were in boy friend girl friend status of the relationship. Many girls have reported being sexually coerced to give in to the sexual exploits of their so called boy friends. Distress, guilt, fear and powerlessness have often kept these girls in some of these pathological relationships. Sometimes, extreme forms of sexual violence have been reported by married women who had endured this, because the man who inflicts this violence is also the provider of the family, the father of the kids, and the women tolerate this sexual violence just to keep the family together.

I think that men in our society should be taught to become more humane. Coercing naïve girls into sexual behaviours they don’t want cannot be a sign of manhood or something to gloat about. We have to start re-educating our youth to accept a more civilized form of courtship, let there be consent, respect the feelings of the girl too. She may love you but do not force her to give up her virtues to prove her love for the man, unless that is what she wishes. Women should learn that good men, are not sexually violent, they don’t force you to sex under any circumstance. Our youth must be taught this.

Further, drug abuse is associated with moments of complete insanity and an addict may be sexually violent under intoxication. Be careful, when you are in a relationship with an addict, just don’t do anything which you will regret later.

Level two.

This level will focus on achieving long term outcomes. Ideas like respecting the human body of oneself and of others can be introduced into school curricula. Children can be taught values such as the need to have a proper belief system, religious values, moral values, etc, and this would be a long term developmental plan.