Image Courtesy: Living Resiliently Blog
Islamabad, 10th December 2019
Media Matters for Democracy contributes to the global campaign #WhyIDidn’tReport by collecting accounts of anonymous Pakistani citizens highlighting a massive number of cases of abuse that go unreported due to a wide range of issues. The accounts were compiled by MMFD’s Program Manager Hija Kamran and shared through our partners Association for Progressive Communications during the #16Days.
Here’s a compilation of all Twitter threads:
And while it's widely becoming evident that people fall victim of abuse even in their homes at the hands of closest of relatives, mostly this abuse goes unreported.#WhyIDidntReport #16Days #OrangeTheWorld @takebackthetech
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— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
By localising #WhyIDidntReport, we intend to give voice to the survivors of sexual violence and share why they didn't report the incident, in their own words.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld @takebackthetech
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— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 23
Victims often blame themselves for the abuse, and initially can't recognise it for what it is. The abuser takes advantage of the love the victim holds for them, and gaslights & invalidate the feelings of the person.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/bSFlTP0yWb
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon man, 30
Even when there is support available for victims of sexual violence, people around them continue to discredit and invalidate their experience. The layers to the process of reporting discourages the victim to speak up again.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/ZKxsXC8WnJ
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 33
In order to protect the 'honourable' family member, the entire family victim blames the victim, further adding to their trauma. The fear of not being believed bars them from reporting sexual violence again.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/RgQsNNrKtB
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
This thread will resume tomorrow with more instances of #WhyIDidntReport in the words of the survivors. Please watch this space
Also, extend unconditional support to the victims and survivors of sexual violence. Believe them.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 27, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 25
Lots of incidents of clerics abusing students are reported, most go unreported. Victim is forced to remain silent, or families care more abt "what will people say", further putting the child at risk of being abused.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/nDiY9BMOik
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 28, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 24
The idea that clothing is the reason why young girls and women get abused forces victims to blame themselves for the abuse, that leads them to not report the incident of sexual violence. The implications are severe.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/gzJ3uTn9tm
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 28, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 37
Self-blame is one of the most common reasons why victims don't report violence. The sense of not being believed adds to their trauma, and restricts them from speaking up.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/JO9O3TtXbM
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 28, 2019
The series will continue tomorrow.
If you'd like to send a submission, please fill this form that collects anonymous responses: https://t.co/yRGXdVI9EK#16Days #WhyIDidntReport
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 28, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anonymous woman, 27
Lack of information around reporting processes often overshadows the will to report. A lot of times, victims do not know where to turn to for help when they are abused.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/xlUhtGXp4n
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 29, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anonymous woman, 26
One of the most common reasons for sexual abuse to go unreported is the self-blame of victims. Society forces victims to find something that they must have done to invite violence. 1/2#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/PnDci8AHnc
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 29, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anonymous woman, 27
'What will people say?' has been a reason of a lot of violence victims and survivors of abuse have to endure all their lives. The trauma that they carry never ceases to exist, affecting their mental health further.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/hXsn5x2dTU
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 29, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anonymous woman, 27
Often the power dynamics between the victim and abuser bar the incident from being reported. The abuser holds power over victim and an authority in the office, enough to bend the decision in their favour.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/YMXIyml8f7
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 29, 2019
Continuing the series #WhyIDidntReport, here are more instances of why victims and survivors didn't report sexual violence.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 30, 2019
…before they report it. The idea of losing everything they've worked hard for, the idea of putting family's 'honour' at risk stops victims from reporting sexual violence. 2/2#WhyIDidntReport#16Days #OrangeTheWorld
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 30, 2019
…the perpetrator to abuse them creates the sense of guilt that stops survivors from reporting. 2/2#WhyIDidntReport#16Days #OrangeTheWorld
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 30, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anonymous woman, 24
Often sexual violence is not addressed when intimate relationship is assumed or expressed. However, the concept of dating doesn't lessen the need for informed consent between two adults.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/mwETU9P2BU
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 30, 2019
The thread will continue tomorrow. Watch this space for more instances of #WhyIDidntReport #16Days #OrangeTheWorld
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) November 30, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 15
Victims of sexual harassment are constantly questioned about the authenticity of the incident, and whether it actually happened. The onus shouldn't be on the survivor, but on the abuser.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/rD8Td3n6eg
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 28
One of the reasons why victims do not report is the past instances where someone else was not believed for similar violence. The fear of not being believed is as serious as the fear of more violence itself.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/YEfbVjYiMA
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
#WhyIDidntReport: Anon woman, 17
The threat of further violence by the abuser, and the victim blaming that comes from people around the survivor continue to stop them from reporting the incident.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/tCxvfni9EL
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
With this, we conclude our series #WhyIDidntReport for the #16Days. Some key takeaways from this series:
1) Most common reason of the incident not reported remain the fear of not being believed. This happens when the victim hasn't had the privilege of strong support system.— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
4) The onus of everyone's happiness falls on the victim, that victim fears could be affected if the incident is ever reported.
5) The lack of action from law enforcement is one of the reasons why the incident is not reported.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
2) Underage individuals cannot consent to sexual activities. Any activity of sexual nature with them is rape.
3) Victims should, by default, be believed. The onus of proving their innocence should fall on the abuser.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
We encourage everyone to join the conversation to counter sexual violence, to believe victims and survivors of any kind of abuse, and to hold abusers accountable. It's the only way we can move to make the world safe for everyone.#16Days #OrangeTheWorld #WhyIDidntReport
— Media Matters for Democracy (@mmfd_Pak) December 9, 2019
