Thread by @ProjectalertVaw

A THREAD

This week we will be discussing secondary victimization of victims of sexual and Gender-based violence. What is secondary victimization?

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Secondary Victimization in crime studies refers to the attitude and behavior of service providers and members of society that tend to blame and shame victims.

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Service providers include the entire criminal justice system, starting with the @PoliceNG, health workers, social welfare departments, NGOs, faith-based organizations etc

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While primary victimization is the violent act itself - the rape, domestic violence etc - secondary victimization is the blaming and shaming of the victim when she seeks help.

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Secondary victimization is thus the negative social or societal reaction following a reported act of rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence reported by a victim

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In Nigeria, most victims of sexual and gender-based violence are blamed for their victimization. What did you do? What were you doing there?

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Female victims of sexual and gender-based violence are made to feel guilty about their victimization. They must have done something to deserve it.

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In many cases of sexual abuse, victims after reporting, come under severe pressure from the perpetrator, authority figures, family and friends to change their stories and lie that it never happened.

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The lives of victims of sexual abuse especially come under x-ray and obscene social scrutiny once they report.

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It does not matter if the victim is a child. What was she wearing? Is that how she was dressed? She is not a good child.

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If the victim did not report immediately as is often the case with sexual abuse, she would be blamed. It did not happen, she just cooked it up, they would say.

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There are many reasons why victims of sexual violence do not immediately report.

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#Fear, intimidation, self-blame, #shame, and dependency on the abuser are some of the key reasons.

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Fear of secondary victimization is the reason why victims of sexual and gender-based violence keep silent.

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Silence in turn makes the perpetrator more powerful.

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We all have a role to play in ending secondary victimization. We must stop the blaming and shaming of victims.

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We must not put them under any pressure to lie about their victimization and cover up for the perpetrator.

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They should not be made to feel guilty.

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We all must be united in our commitment to zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women and it starts with saying NO to blaming and shaming.

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#COVID19GBVNg secondary victimisation, threats and intimidation is the reason why #seyitan has “settled” and thinks it’s okay to cast aspersions on @StandtoEndRape and other NGOs who supported her. We stand with STER. @HenshawKate @AfAafrica @DSVRT @unwomenNG @GlobalSpotlight