Devon Dick

On Saturday, International Women's Day, CVM TV aired an interview between Marion Hall, aka Lady Saw and Wilford Williams in which she related her story of being raped as a child. The Star newspaper had already done a story the day before, titled 'Saw tells her rape story'. Lady Saw has placed the issue of rape on the agenda of Jamaica.

Also on Saturday, the international community mentioned that domestic violence against women was a major problem. Indeed, a report in 2007 found that only 14 per cent of rape complaints go to trial in England. Raping of our women is a serious problem worldwide.

Rape is perhaps the most heinous crime that a woman can experience and live to recall or tell the sordid tale. It is violence against body and violation of mind. It traumatises one's psyche and has the potential to affect one's sexuality and attitudes to sexual intercourse.

More needs to be done to protect our girls and women. There needs to be a properly funded public education programme. Public opinion ought to be mobilised against rape and other abuse of women. Our culture and custom must become anti-rape. The radio stations must give more airplay to songs that are anti-rape. About a year ago, I believe it was General Degree who had a catchy song that was anti-carnal abuse and I heard it once on the radio and never heard it again!

More of our plays should deal with the issue of rape. On that score, it is noteworthy that Basil Dawkins, the playwright in Uptown Bangarang 2 deals sensitively and sensibly with the issue of rape and abortion. Such plays must be encouraged and more plays need to confront this monster of rape.

No time limit for report

The Star related that its police sources claimed "there is no time limit on when a rape can be reported". How many women know that? Children who were afraid to report the rape during their childhood need to be encouraged to report the rape during adulthood. It could be a deterrent to would-be rapists that even 10 or 20 years after the crime, they still could be charged. Let the charge hang over their heads.

It would be interesting to know how many rape complaints go to trial in Jamaica. It is hoped that some of our best investigators would be employed in detecting rapists. Additionally, the law should ban songs which encourage violence against our women and also those which encourage sexual exploitation.

It seems that more stringent rules are needed for persons to get a licence to operate public transportation. And taxi men who molest women should have their permits terminated. In addition, there should be a published list of sexual predators. Recently, a teenager told me how unnatural acts were forcibly performed on her by a taxi man at gunpoint because she was experiencing menstruation. That taxi man is still driving on the route.

The public education programme ought to counter some of the myths and trauma associated with rape. Many women do not report rape because it is felt that it will bring shame on self and family. Sometimes, it is to protect their children and sometimes it is to protect a source of income. It is not helped that some preachers continue to preach that women alone should be submissive in marriage without any regard for mutual submission to God. This lends itself to some men feeling as if they can do anything with women.

Let us resolve to stop raping our women.