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Between Rape And Women’s Sexual Rights In Nigeria By Nura Maaji
The issue of rape in Nigeria has attracted the attention of not only human right activists, feminists from Non-governmental organization here in Nigeria , but also from international Non-governmental organizations. This is due to the fact that, there are so many incidence and cases of rape occurring on almost daily basis and actions are yet to be taken to normalize the situation. Rape is a form of Gender Base Violence (GBV) against women, according to the Beijin declaration and plat form for action, it defines violence against women as “any act of GBV that result in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women [and Girls], including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. Among the forms of sexual violence against women, rape is the most prevalent and disturbing in Nigeria .
Although, there is no accurate data which will exactly tell us the rate of rape cases and incidence occurring in daily or annual bases in the country. Though, some Nigerian NGOs with the assistance of international NGOs have conducted researches with the aim of knowing the rate of rape cases and incidence that is occurring in the country and be able to educate the society of its effect in order to reduce it. For example, CLEEN Foundation, an NGO which promote public safety, security and justice, in a nation wide survey undertaken in 2005, found out that only 18.1% - lees than one in five – of some 10,000 respondents who had been raped had reported to the police. Also, CLEEN Foundation’s figures shows that, in 1999 there were 2,241 cases of rape and indecent assault. In 2000, 1,500 cases were reported; in 2001, 2,284; in 2002, 2,084; in 2003, 2,250; in 2004, 1,626; and in 2005 1,835 cases were all reported.
Furthermore, the punch newspaper, in 2005 reported that only one in fifty (50) rape cases were actually reported. This attitude of not reporting rape cases in Nigeria today, is assuming different dimension. Part of the reason is that, it carries heavy social stigma, some times due to fear of rejection by family members and communities, and the fact that victims are unwilling to report to the police because they themselves are perpetrators. People have to understand that rape causes a lot of damage to women, it increase their chances of getting HIV/AIDS and STIs. It also causes mental disorder and feeling of low self esteem, it also affects their academic performance.
Moreover, people have to understand that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and according to CEDAW, rape violate the principles of equality of right and respect for human dignity, and also violate women’s sexual right. Women,as part of their sexual rights, enjoy the right not to be pressured into sexual activity, the right to make autonomous life within one’s context of social ethics and values, to have sexual relations that are consensual and live a life that is free of violence, discrimination and without hindrance to relationships based on equality, respect and justice. So rape in all its entirety is a crime and it violate women’s sexual rights.
Conclusively there for, women and Girls should not be taken for granted, they should not be raped and they should not be relegated to all kinds of treatment, rather should be allowed to enjoy equal rights and opportunities as men enjoy. |