BY: Hassan Alimamy Kamara
Rainbo Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), providing free medical support services for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) victims, counseling, and providing psychosocial support for victims in order to discourage trauma and victimization and death, has organised an exhibition showcasing what victims go through.
To publicise their experiences in order to eradicate them, the Rainbo Initiative organized an exhibition event showcasing how several rape incidents and sexual penetration cases, and gender-based violence have unfolded across the nation, within the confines of learning institutions, homes, workplaces, and communities.
With the theme “what were you wearing,” the exhibition, pinpointed several instances where some of the victims have been experiencing attacks, assaults, humiliations, and the like. It is a phrase capturing how some of the victims dressed during their assaults. Stressing that the way one dresses should not determine anymore for one to be raped or assaulted; regardless of one’s dressing, age or location, they are no longer at liberty and that they are safe no more.
There was an exhibition explaining these nemeses to the media and the general population on Thursday 6th October 2022, at the Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen Freetown. From a stand point of view of Rainbo Initiative, jailing perpetrators is not a way out, but asked for a lasting solution which could not incur more excess spending.
Making a statement at the event, the Executive director of Rainbo Initiative, Daniel Kettor, said such an exhibition was being hosted to showcase the different forms in which sexual and gender based violence cases happen and therefore find a solution to address such. He said there has been a tradition of ‘ victims blaming’ rather than the perpetrators, as he said that is not a good trend to follow; but however, said it does happen because of the culture of the people.
Firstly, he stated that people claimed to have assaulted women because of the way they dress, but emphasized that it should not be the case as he further stated that assaults have been on the rampage and that regardless of one’s dressing, no one is safe. He furthered that one should be at liberty to dress the way one chooses to.
He added that the exhibition serves as a leeway to show the real stories behind the rape cases in the country. He explained that the stories have been in different forms of different places, and times and to different people of different ages and of different circumstances. This he said will help make people feel connected to the issues of SGBV.
“No one is safe,” he said. “It could happen to anyone in different communities, to anybody, anytime and anywhere.”
He said even the homes of people whom they consider to be among the safest, still cannot be relied upon as he mentioned that a father has penetrated or raped his own daughter or relative. Where else is safe?, he asked; when your boss, parents or guardians are no longer to be trusted and to the extent that babies are not even spared.
Mr Kettor said that most of these stories have been confidential but they want them to be public now, hence, the reason behind the exhibition. These stories are real, he stated; and said the need for the exhibition is eminent to showcase them to the public; as they have been happening behind the scenes. He added that the consequences of these victims are so emotional that all and sundry has a role to play – mosques, churches, schools, and communities to help eradicate these menaces of SGBV which have become a pandemic in the country. He ended that this situation is not good for the nation as it can happen to anyone, and therefore everyone should take action to tackle it.
Organizing a panel discussion to get diverse views from diverse disciplines, the chairperson of Lawyers, Fatmata Forster, said the exhibition is so important and worthwhile for everyone.
She said, “We still live in a society of victim blaming,” a situation where victims appear to be at fault rather than the perpetrators. “The cause for rape is because of rapists,” she said.
She continued that the culture of impunity needs to be broken to ensure that SGBV issues are eradicated. She said they can be broken by holding accountable the perpetrators and having them punished by law. She said such an exhibition needs to be taken further to various communities across the nation.
“No matter the circumstances, women should not be victims,” she said.
She reiterated that to stop such menaces, the culture of impunity should be discouraged if a successful fight is to be ensured. “The right consequences need to be applied in accordance with the law,” she urged. Women should not be blamed after being assaulted, she stated. She continued that women should not be assaulted because of what they wear. “Nobody is safe,” she stressed.
From the Family Support Unit (FSU) perspective, Detective Sergeant of Police, Michael B. Williams, said it does not mean if a girl dresses bad it is a justification to tamper with her.
“They have their dignity and should be respected by men,” he said, adding that they need to be protected rather than being attacked. He mentioned that cases of such nature are to be handled with all seriousness instead of blaming the victim.
The Advocacy Officer at Don Bosco, Ibrahim Turay, said “There is no need to blame the victims.”
He stated that women have the right to dress the way they want; and that their case should be looked at from the survival center approach, in which the interest of the survivors is key. However, he said it is indecent to dress badly, but stated that it is not a justification to rape or assault women.
Centering his discussion from the traditional point of view, the section chief of the Kamayama community, Lumley, Freetown, Chief Pa Alimamy Kebbay Conteh, pinpointed that, “then and now is different.”
He said then 15 years old girl can be a wife, on which he said has a link to what many are doing today. However, he mentioned that it should not be a justification to tamper with young girls. He added that one’s relationship with another should not be a way to abuse her. He reiterated that the culture of early marriage has had a huge blow to the fight against SGBV.
He urged Rainbo Initiative to continue to do more of the good work they have started; confessing that the organization’s interventions has done a lot to safeguard the girl child.
