Confronting Sexual Assault and Violence Against Women
“He told me, if he didn’t own me, nobody would.” This is what a 30-year-old woman, Stacy, told the courtroom.
Nowadays, 3 out of 10 women suffer from violence or discrimination. Most young women like us will or have experienced some discrimination or an awkward moment with men. How many women do you think have been disrespected in the streets? Have you ever been shouted or whistled at? Most adolescent girls have experienced this, often at the hands of older men.
The Shocking Statistics of Sexual Assault
More than four violations occur every day. In Spain, 788 sexual assaults with penetration were reported between January and June of this year, according to the latest data made public recently by the Ministry of the Interior. Do you really think this has to go on like this? Just imagine, in a few years, you have a job and a husband or wife, and your daughters also have jobs. Then, one day, the police call you to say that your daughter has been violated and murdered. No one should ever feel that pain. That’s why we should stop this. We should really think about how horrific a community we have and we should start thinking about changing this and improving the future, just like our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did for us.
Names of Victims: A Call to Remember
- Jennifer Hernandez Salas, 46 years old, Tenerife
- Celia, 90 years old, Toledo
- Mar Contreras, 21 years old, Granada
- Maria Soledad Alvarez, 49 years old, Gran Canaria
And 45 women have been assassinated and violated by their husbands or their ex-husbands.
The Cycle of Violence and Fear of Reporting
It’s unbelievable how you can get married to the supposed love of your life and then, for whatever reason, you want to get a divorce. Maybe the reason is that they do not support themselves, or that they did things too fast. Or maybe, as in the majority of cases, it is because the man did something aggressive. Like a normal human who loves herself, the woman just wants to get rid of him, so she files for divorce. But when the man knows about the divorce or the complaint, normally it gets worse. That’s why there are fewer complaints and many violated women, because of fear.
Two Stories of Injustice in the Legal System
I’m going to tell you two stories that will make you see how unpleasant the courts, the policemen, and all those who are supposed to protect you can be if something serious happens to you.
The Ireland Case
The first one just happened in Ireland. An adolescent of 17 years old was violated by a “proper man.” His lawyer turned the story around, saying that the girl provoked him because she was wearing a lace thong.
The “La Manada” Case
The other story was a few years ago, in 2016. Five guys, “La Manada,” they called themselves, violated a girl in a doorway near the party during San Fermin in Pamplona. The girl hesitated whether to denounce it or not, but in the end, she did. Again, the court made the girl, instead of the victim, the bad one. The guys were members of the Civil Guard and the Spanish Army. They went to jail but soon after, they left with a bond of 6,000 euros. Is that really what a violation costs? It’s a shame that an act such as violation can be forgotten with a simple price.
A Call for Justice and Societal Change
In conclusion, I think it’s a shame that such an important issue is forgotten so easily without thinking about what the victim may feel. Just as it is a lack of respect for society that rapists are not caught for what they have done. Therefore, this act will continue to happen until they see that they will have harsh consequences.