liens - GID

What Should We Do: Recommendations
Vettens (1997:45) responds to this by suggesting ‘.. challenging societal
beliefs and cultural values that promote and condone sexual violence;
educating potential victims about risk, risk-avoidance and self-defence.’
She also suggests jailing and/or treating the sex offender. 1 There is
need to define rape more clearly and unambiguously, and to educate the
public about the differences between the legal definition and the customary
or local concepts. The classification of rape victims needs to be
expanded to include boys defiled by female adults. Behaviour change is
necessary where all stakeholders are concerned. There is need to address
the myths about sexual abuse.
Where the Davies (1984:71) typical rape scenario holds in which ‘The
woman quickly gives in to avoid the mess, pain, and danger of a useless
fight against superior force. The victim becomes passive, putting distance
between herself and her body..’ efforts must be made to change
attitudes. Girls can frustrate rapists; some women, as has been pointed
out above, have been known to fight off rapists. The possibility that a
girl might be hurt cannot be discounted, and there have been cases of
murder, when girls have attempted to resist rape. However, in those
cases where the rapist is an acquaintance extreme violence capable of
threatening life is unlikely. Girls should be educated to understand that,
and to know how to approach the situation. It is important that vulnerable
girls do not get into compromising situations, such as some of the
circumstances described above. One rapist strategy, as the stories told
by female respondents show, is to send a young girl to buy petty things
and then to invite her into the rapist’s ‘den’ on her return with the
goods. Hawkers, as the Nigerian case shows, are at risk, especially those
who visit homes with their wares – peanuts, pastries, snacks etc.
A conducive environment should be created in which victims report
rape crimes without fear of ridicule or reprisal. Rape needs to be made
unattractive; rapists should be punished severely to serve as a deterrent.
It is no punishment when a rapist is made to marry victim. It is possible
that the psychological effects of rape are not fully appreciated; the rape
victim needs therapy and professional attention. 2
1
Her suggestion about pooling cars is not suitable in the Accra case, though it might
work in South Africa.
2
Send correspondence on this article to A. K. Awedoba, IAS, Univ. of Ghana, Legon.
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