This article is focused on the following UN Sustainable Development Goal:
Pakistan has one of the world's largest refugee populations to this day. An average of 47% of that population are women and girls, meaning more than half of the camps are filled with Men. General data stated by The times:
"There are at least 11 rape cases reported in Pakistan every day with over 22,000 rape cases reported to police across the country in the last six years, according to official statistics. However, only 77 accused have been convicted which comprise 0.3% of the total figure."
These reports do not even amount to the ones not accounted for. Women refugees are vulnerable and the most marginalized groups in the world. Rape and or Sexual Assault is so persistent in today's society that 11 cases are reported a day in Pakistan. Do you not see the problem?
The fact that these women at camps who were forced to leave for their own safety are not safe in their residency is wrong by itself. Think about those children as well, they deal with being sexualized from a young age, and half the time no consequences are given to their assaulter. These children can develop effects from it such as; intense fear, Self-Harm, Sexual Health, Emotional and Mental harm, Guilt and shame, PTSD, Impaired brain development, and physical health.
Intense fear can be caused by sexual abuse as it leaves an individual concerned about the same incident happening again and scared of people, places, or things that can trigger a reminder of the event. Self-harm often is a coping mechanism that individuals take up when not knowing a healthier way of getting thoughts, emotions, and feeling out of their system. Sexual health also can affect a child by one experience or recurring experiences of abuse, the child has not totally understood or processed what has happened to them leaving them in a state of confusion and experimenting. Emotional and Mental harm is often a cause of self-manipulation of feeling they are in the wrong causing a cycle of repeating the idea it was their fault and their own consequences. Guilt and shame are the number one leading cause of unreported abuse and worsened mental health, after an event an individual gets into a cycle where they, were provoking the attack, they were the problem, and no one would believe them. Often this can just be stemmed from a not open or understanding household with specific beliefs pushed onto people without the option of free will. PTSD is a disorder stemming from a trauma where the brain does not know how to deal with what has happened with certain things triggering an individual to go through nightmares, flashbacks, and uncontrollable thoughts. Rape or Sexual assault can also cause impaired brain development as it can lead a person to destructive behaviors like addiction, self-harm, and eating disorders. Lastly, physical health is also an effect of rape as certain sexually transmitted diseases could develop or certain tares in private areas.
In conclusion, taking action, and listening when people tell you their story is very important. Eliminate telling the females how to be instead, educate the males and establish the need for consent. We need to start protecting our children, too many victims are in this world, and not enough consequences for their abusers.
BELIEVE THE VICTIMS
EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION
What can you do?
The one question people always ask is how can we prevent these kinds of problems.
Education on Consent
Stop victim-blaming
Listen to victims
Make an open environment for victims to feel safe telling their story
Be an active bystander
Educate the next generation
Remember, change starts with you.
Desk, Web. “11 Rape Incidents Reported in Pakistan Every Day, Official Statistics Reveal.” Thenews, The News International, 13 Nov. 2020, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/743328-about-11-rape-cases-reported-in-pakistan-every-day-official-statistics-reveal.
“EUAA Publishes Report on Afghan Refugees in Pakistan.” European Union Agency for Asylum, 2022, https://euaa.europa.eu/news-events/euaa-publishes-report-afghan-refugees-pakistan#:~:text=Background,the%20USSR's%20invasion%20of%20Afghanistan.
The European Sting - Critical News & Insights on European Politics ... 19 Feb. 2020, https://europeansting.com/.
Gupta, Shalini. (PDF) Causes and Effects of Child Sexual Abuse - Researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342359705_Causes_and_Effects_of_Child_Sexual_Abuse.
“No Place to Call Home for Pakistani Refugees.” NRC, https://www.nrc.no/news/2019/october/no-place-to-call-home-for-pakistani-refugees/.
Qayyum, Mahwish. “After Fleeing Violence in Afghanistan, Carpet Weaving Provides Refugee Women with a Meagre but Vital Lifeline in Pakistan.” Equal Times, 30 June 2021, https://www.equaltimes.org/after-fleeing-violence-in?lang=en#.Y2KpquzMJQI.
“Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics.” RAINN, https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence.
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