In Senegal, feminist associations planned to meet this Tuesday, December 31 in Dakar to organize a naked sit-in. The participants would have undressed. But local authorities banned the gathering. The collective of Feminists of Senegal, which was part of the organization, intends to denounce the extent of violence, often sexual, committed against women and the youngest in what they consider to be general indifference.
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According to the WHO, Senegal27% of women aged 15-49 have suffered physical violence since the age of 15. Aminata Mbengue, psychologist and member of the Collective of Feminists of Senegal, explains the reasons for this gathering on the microphone of our correspondent Gwendal Lavina.
“ We wanted to denounce the silence of the authorities on the increase in cases of rape and especially child crime. Not a single day goes by without reports of cases of rape against very young girls or very young boys.
We have no vision of what the new authorities intend to do to fight against the culture of rape in Senegal, but also for the application of article 14 of the Maputo protocolwhich Senegal has ratified since 2014. The article in question provides for authorizing abortion in cases of rape, in cases of incest, but also when the mother’s life is in danger. »
According to Aminata Mbengue, in Senegal, due to a “ certain culture linked to masculinity “, people are also ” victims of patriarchal violence more broadly ” gold ” there is not in fact a clear line from the government, the Ministry of Family and Solidarity to raise awareness about the mechanisms of domestic violence “.
Also readSenegal: in Dakar, an organization offers legal assistance to women victims of violence
A law has existed since January 2020 that criminalizes rape and pedophilia, but feminist associations still regularly challenge public authorities on the impunity that reigns in this matter.