Ms. Onwenu who is currently the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development speaks on the need for government and the society to rise against all forms of crimes against women. During her recent interview with Zakki Azzay, she address the issue of rampant rape cases arising and that indecent dressing is never an excuse for a man to rape a woman. Read below....
How do you think we can put an end to the rising cases of rape in Nigeria?
I think rape has always been part of our society, and we have not given it prominence because the security agents, like the police, do not take it seriously. It is a crime against womanhood, but it is not given the attention it deserves. That is because we have not really given women their due.Nigeria has not really protected the women.
We do have domestic violence, rape and others but when it is reported to the police, they will simply say just go and settle it. They will even blame it on the woman, by telling her, eh na you cause am, na the way you they waka provoke the man (meaning to say she sexually provoked the man by her seductive steps).
Other societies have taken steps to increase the sanction attached to rape. It is such a violation of your person; you have no right, no personhood.
Is that what you mean when you said that Nigeria is not protecting women?
Yes, that is what I mean, because the police feel no obligation to prosecute sex offenders. They see rape is a little thing. They would say rape is just a crime against women. Or when a husband beats the wife into coma they will say go and settle it at home.
The same home where you were nearly killed? I think women should be able to access a lawyer in pushing their case. Yes, all that should follow so that as the police take it more seriously, the society will take it more seriously too.
The more people get punished, and the more people speak up against it, the more we stand to make success in protecting women’s rights. We can say ‘oh, women, you really have to go there and be screaming and demonstrating, and then we will take it seriously.’ No, everything must go hand in hand. Our lawmakers as well must take it seriously. Any crime against a woman is crime against the family.
Are you saying that the manner some women dress have nothing to do with the rising rape cases?
I do not encourage the women to dress in a manner that is so provocative. No, that is not acceptable to me, because it shows the kind of respect you have for yourself.
Never mind the person looking, because above everything else, people address you the way you dress. How you dress shows the degree of respect you have for yourself as a woman.
At the same time, if it is not a crime, it does not give you the right to me (woman). So if you rape me (woman) because I am wearing a short skirt, you are still going to the prison. I hope you understand me very well.
I am not advocating that women should expose their body, but I do not think anyone can use that as an excuse to rape a woman. I think some dresses are not good for some functions or places Well, I do not think that there is a place you need to go in a dress that exposes your body.
You can dress and be sexy and look nice without exposing your body. Beauty is from within. Wear something that looks good and decent, that you feel comfortable in. Your inner beauty is what is going to come out. There are women that can cover their body from the neck to the toe and when they come out you simply exclaim, ‘wow.’
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