Sexual violence doesn’t occur in a vacuum, it takes place under societal influence, which includes the workspace. Women who have suffered sexual violence are not victims, they are heroes who survived, persevered, and carried on with their lives. These women are a symbol of resistance against violence. This is the message sent relentlessly by psychologists to all women – fighters, who have faced this type of violence.
The issue has been actualized across the region ever since the Serbian actress, Milena Radulović revealed she had been the victim of rape by her acting professor Miroslav Mika Aleksić. After her public confession, anonymous confessions by victims of sexual violence, as part of the “I wasn’t asking for it” and “You are not alone” initiatives spread across social media. Many women publicly shared experiences of sexual harassment and even rape. The regional #MeToo movement has also started a wave of reports of sexual harassment in educational institutions, and even in the workspace.
Things in our country reached a boiling point when news broke out about a 46-year old judo trainer from Prilep who had been allegedly sexually molesting underage girls, put in his care to be trained, and it culminated with the “Public Room” case, a group on Telegram that had already been discovered once last year, where the police claimed to have shut it down and to have it under control, only for news to reach the public once again that the group is operational, and that pictures, videos and personal data, such as addresses and phone numbers of women and girls, are exchanged without their consent in a sexual connotation.
Regarding the sexual harassment phenomenon, experts say that the perpetrator is often an intimate partner, an ex-partner, a spouse, a family member, an acquaintance, a friend, or even a stranger. Sexual violence against women is an especially difficult and complex kind of violence, especially during wars, disasters and pandemics.
Sexual violence as a general term is used to define several different kinds of sexuality-related aggression, starting with rape, which can be done by an unknown offender, a group, someone the victim knows or a family member, to unwanted courting and unwelcome sexual jokes.
Speaking to MIA, Director of the National Network against Violence against Women and Domestic Abuse, Elena Dimushevska says that due to the generalness of the term sexual violence, there are no strictly defined forms. International organizations define various forms, among which are sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment in public or in the workspace, as well as sexual abuse.
What these forms of violence have in common is that sex and sexuality are being used as an instrument to manifest force, i.e. power over the victim, inflicting psychological pain upon the victim as well, such as humiliation, intimidation, shame etc., and physical injuries ranging from small injuries to death, or damage such as STIs.
According to the WHO, any kind of violence against women is a breach of human rights and a form of discrimination, relating to the physical, sexual, psychological or economical injury or suffering of women. Sexual violence is “any sexual act, attempt towards sexual act or another action directed against a person’s sexuality through means of force, by any person regardless of their relationship with the victim, in any surrounding”. It includes rape, defined as a physically or otherwise forced penetration.
Psychologist Marijana Markovikj tells MIA that a culture’s attitude towards gender influences the attitudes towards male-female relations, and consequently, the way sexual abusers and victims are perceived.
“Sexual violence against women is often a result of unequal power between men and women, more commonly occurring in cultures that encourage beliefs of male superiority and social and cultural inferiority of women,” Markovikj points out.
Within cultures, roles and representations of genders and attitudes towards sexual violence differ. Despite the difference in female emancipation and established equality, sexual violence against women is omnipresent in every culture. According to the WHO’s data, on a global scale, one in three women suffer physical and/or sexual violence during their life, typically from an intimate partner.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in sexual violence
Sexual violence against women has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being stuck at home has led to a disruption in the family dynamic, the victim and abuser are stuck in the same space and there’s no escape.
According to Dimushevska, the culture, mentality, upbringing, tradition, gender roles and norms, societal beliefs and convictions are only a part of the factors why women and girls in Macedonia are more susceptible and vulnerable to the different forms of sexual violence.
“In a gender unequal society where women are still largely economically dependent, where traditional gender roles and norms are followed, and other traditional practices dictating that women should be subservient and satisfy their husbands’ or partners’ every need, without the right to say no, makes them vulnerable to all forms of violence, especially sexual violence,” Dimushevska states.
Sexual violence remains taboo, persisting due to the support society gives to the perpetrator
Dimushevska believes that what’s even more important for the continued existence of all forms of violence against women is the support given to the perpetrator by society.
“Excusing his actions and the finding of reasons and excuses that it wasn’t his fault, it was her, she provoked him, taking care not to drag his name through the mud without caring if the same happens to her, low punishments for the perps that will eventually find themselves in a courtroom and be convicted, are encouraging factors for them to find new victims and carry on abusing people,” Dimushevska says decidedly.
Women and girls, children, disabled persons, sex workers, the LGBT+ community, people in psychiatric wards, care homes and prisons are especially vulnerable groups where the probability of suffering a form of sexual violence is higher.
Insufficient support systems, shame, fear of public judgment, fear or risk of revenge, fear or risk of accusation, fear or risk of not being believed, fear or risk of being abused or socially outcast are the main reasons women decide to stay silent.
Dimushevska highlights that this should be an encouragement for the media to raise public awareness, use their power to promote gender equality and possibly preventing violence against women.
The general population’s insufficient awareness on this matter makes sexual violence a taboo. Institutional ignorance strengthens this position.
Dimushevska reminds us that domestic violence was also taboo, but campaigns by civil organizations, educating and raising awareness in institutional professionals led us to where we are today.
“The Law on Domestic Abuse is in force since 2015 that had been regulated by another law for years prior, the Law on Family. The National Network against Violence against Women has started activities for recognizing different forms of gender based violence, as well as sexual abuse. As a result of our efforts, as well as the efforts by other civil organizations working this subject matter, the Istanbul Convention was ratified and a new legal solution was adopted – the Law on Preventing of and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Abuse,” Dimushevska points out.
She deems this law all-encompassing, regulating all forms of violence against women, stipulating protection for the victims.
Although this is a step in the right direction, she adds that we must work together to make sure that the state and institutions understand the importance and urgency of this matter, taking all necessary steps for the victims to get the protection they need, and for perpetrators to receive the highest punishments, sending a message that violence is not to be tolerated.
On the other hand, Markovikj says that a sexual act is the most intimate kind of relation with another person, which is inherently complex in and of itself, resulting from the relation towards the self, others, one’s own needs, and social norms.
“Sharing intimacy contains a measure of trust in the other person so that we avoid being placed in a situation where other people additionally accuse us,” Markovikj tells MIA.
Victims have long-term consequences to their physical and mental health
Sexual violence over women has long-term consequences to their mental and physical health, as well as in terms of their social standing.
As a result of sexual violence, physical injuries may occur, as well as unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions and a higher risk of STIs, including HIV.
Markovikj clarifies that after a sexual assault, a survivor may feel as though their body isn’t really theirs. Feelings of guilt and shame are prevalent, and many survivors blame themselves.
As a result of a mental health decline, the following disorders may arise: depression, anxiety, PTSD, personality disorders, risky behaviors, addiction, suicide attempts, and social isolation.
Stop all kinds of violence! Society must transfer the shame from the victim to the perpetrator
It’s baffling that even despite the projects aiming to prevent violence, it’s on the rise everywhere in the world.
“It’s as if the media competes who will show more violence through movies, music, or social media… The way a woman is shown in the media is a very frequent research topic. Research analyses show that women are shown as erotic objects most of the time,” Markovikj points out.
The primary message sent to the overall ecosystem producing and enabling violence is: Stop all kinds of violence. Society must stop pinning the shame on the victim, and shame the perpetrator instead.
“A person who’s been exposed to violence must be protected within the system, to get adequate legal, medical and psychological aid. Persons who were exposes to violence view themselves as victims and thereby feel as though they’re losing control over their own lives,” Markovikj says.
Put the focus on promoting protection
We shouldn’t be focusing on raising awareness in women to report violence, Dimushevska believes, but rather to focus on promoting protection.
“What’s the point in making women aware they should report, when they will be met with misunderstanding, a lack of acceptance, and a lack of action? The mistrust shown by institutional workers towards the victims is key for their retreat and remaining silent about the violence inflicted upon them,” Dimushevska points out.
The devastating effects of sexual violence over victims, according to Markovikj, can be mitigated not only by professionals, but also by para-professionals and organizations within the community.
“Promoting gender equality is a critical part in preventing violence. The relationship between gender and violence is a complex one. Evidence suggests that gender inequalities increase the risk of violence by men towards women and inhibit the affected parties from seeking protection,” Markovikj states.
Research points out that the community, schools, the media, public awareness campaigns etc., all have the power to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women by overcoming the stereotypes that give men more power over women.
Curriculums based on gender equality may influence gender norms and attitudes before they’re adopted by children and adolescents.
According to Markovikj, community interventions may influence gender norms and attitudes through the inclusion of women in decision processes locally and centrally, stimulating education of women, employment, and encouraging women to start their own businesses in order to be educated and economically independent from their families and partner.
The Interior Ministry urges citizens to report to the nearest police station
A current example is the Public Room online abuse case. There was huge media coverage for this case, as well as a large number of victims and perpetrators.
The Public Room group on Telegram, in which over 6,500 members shared photos, social network profiles, personal data, addresses and phone numbers of women, has been deleted from the social network. Four people have been placed in custody, two of which were from Bitola, one from Veles, and one from Shtip.
“The Interior Ministry and the Public Prosecution Office are obligated to react, but they continue with the excuses that the victims haven’t come forward, even though victims’ stories have surfaced on social media, as well as their experiences with the police, i.e. the attitude of the police when they gathered the courage to report it,” Dimushevska says.
This isn’t the only case of inaction by authorities.
“As long as victims are treated with mistrust, as long as the police and the PPO expect victims to show up with ready, clear evidence, we can’t talk about raising awareness and encouraging victims to report,” she says.
According to data from the MoI, the biggest number of felony charges against sexual liberty and sexual moral are related to sexual assault of children under 14 years old, punishable by Article 188 of the Criminal Code, and the least reports were registered for incest punishable by Article 194 of the Criminal Code. All reports related to women and girls, and the MoI acts accordingly for each report.
MoI spokesman Toni Angelovski tells MIA that such abuse is nothing new online. He reminds us that something like this happened last year too, but all cases are monitored and they’re acting accordingly.
“In the case of Public Room, the Sector for Computer Crime and Digital Forensics as part of the MoI has been working in coordination with the Prosecution, and they’ve already taken certain measures and activities in order to clear this case.”
He says that there is another group similar to Public Room that’s already operational, but they’re working on sanctioning the members of that group as well.
“Of course, we are continuing with measures and activities devised in order to counter this phenomenon,” Angelovski adds, appealing to the citizens to report any information about the group to the nearest police station because anything can help clear the case.
“Any participation in such groups supports such actions and this will also be punished. We have various felonies here, various abuses depending on the photos, the content posted, and the felony will be matched accordingly. Anyone who committed an act of felony will answer for it,” Angelovski concludes.
According to the police data, there have been around 30 felony rape charges in the past couple of years, and these actions are cleared adequately with a report to the prosecutor’s office./MIA
Bisera Trajkovska
Marija Spasovska
translation: Dragana Knezhevikj
photos: Frosina Naskovikj
