“We believe this matter deserves immediate and intensified action on all levels.”
Cover photo by Ramez E. Nassif on Unsplash
With the coronavirus forcing schools in Ethiopia to close down, there’s an increasing concern about the children in the country who maybe facing sexual abuse at home. In an effort to bring attention to the issue, organizers of the #metooethiopia movement started a petition and highlighted the reasons for their concerns.
In the letter addressing Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the advocates described themselves as a group of “men and women who have been directly or indirectly affected by the physical, psychological and social trauma of sexual violence in the Ethiopian community.”
“We are the brave sisters and brothers who have shared our stories and those who have read their heartbreaking experiences and therefore stand in solidarity with them,” the group stated.
The petition noted several reasons that are stopping sexual assault cases from being reported more often.
“There is a lack of awareness and open conversations in our schools, work places, media outlets and community as a whole,” advocates wrote.
Noting another factor, the group said “victims are ignored by parents and other family members, sometimes even blamed.”
The petition also stated that “survivors lack trust in the legal system’s ability to bring assailants to justice.” In addition, the group said there’s “little to no notable consequences for perpetrators.”
“We believe this matter deserves immediate and intensified action on all levels,” the petition stated. “From education to bring cultural evolution to providing services and resources for the victims and ensuring those who inflict such harm be held accountable for these crimes.”
According to BBC, The Women and Children Affairs Bureau in Addis Ababa said more than 100 children in the country have been raped since school closed because of the pandemic.
Zahara Legesse, an advocate for women and children, said sexual abuse has always been a problem in Ethiopia, but more cases are now being reported while children are staying at home.
In an interview with BBC, Legesse said abuse doesn’t only refer to rape, but also includes neglect, emotional and physical abuse as well. Legesse said the children are mostly abused by somebody in the house.
“Most of the time, people think the abuse comes from an outsider,” Legesse said in Amharic. “What we’re seeing now is that it’s the children’s brothers, sisters, parents, relatives who are committing the abuse.”
She adds that it’s easy to take advantage of the victims because children easily trust their relatives.
“The abusers usually scare them, saying ‘I will kill you if you tell. I will do something to your mother,'” Legesse told BBC.
Having seen many cases of abuse through the years, Legesse said people often make excuses to defend the abuser, but the children become the forgotten victims because they aren’t able to express themselves.
Legesse said it’s important to teach consent at a very young age, educating girls about who isn’t allowed to touch them and what inappropriate touching looks like.
“If we don’t tell them, they don’t know it when it happens to them,” Legesse said.
Tsehai Loves Learning, a children’s program, recently published a video to teach girls and boys about consent. Tsehai, a little girl in the show, educates a boy who went outside naked. After teaching the boy about why it’s not acceptable to go outside naked, Tsehai talks about the different body parts which should never be touched by others.
The show also teaches kids to scream or run if they ever find themselves in an inappropriate situation.