Why Sexual Offences Act is important

On May 3, Parliament passed the Sexual Offences Bill into an Act. While much hullabaloo was made over the proposal for withdrawal of consent anytime during sexual intercourse, the other sections are just as important and we commend MPs for dealing with this monster of sexual harassment in such a manner. 

The Police Annual Crime Report 2019, shows that while there was a reduction in reported defilement cases, the numbers are still high. There were 13,613 cases reported that year, and while the biggest age group which faced this horror were 15-17 year-olds, even those in the age group of zero to  eight years were not spared, with 1,026 cases being reported. 

The report also showed that the number of rape cases had decreased from the year before by 3.2 per cent, a small decrease. The total number of cases reported in 2019 was 1,528. 

It is, however, well known that many cases of defilement and rape are not reported for various reasons including fear of reprisal, victimisation, parents or guardians being paid off and security organs being slow to work on the cases.

Many cases of rape and defilement have started as cases of intimidation, harassment and exploitation. Many victims try to put up a fight but because there has hardly been any place to find respite, they end up being raped and defiled. Instead of receiving help and justice when they report assaults, they have been laughed at because things like catcalling, insisting on sexual favours in the work place, and so on have been deemed normal. 

People in superior positions have intimidated juniors into thinking it is their right to demand such from them. The victims have been made to believe that this is normal and they have to deal with it whichever way they can.

Now, however, that the Bill has been made into an Act, there is hope that men and women will now be treated with the dignity they deserve and not as sex objects. 

This is a start to ensuring that people can go about their lives without having to constantly worry about being treated inhumanely. There is no excuse for anyone to be sexually harassed. 

The Act is a good place to reinforce this message and it’s passing into law is welcome. What remains to be done is for the law to be implemented effectively.