“Indecent Dressing Not A Factor For Rape” – Martin Mary Falana

The Chief Executive Officer, Kids & Teens Resource Centre (K&TRC), and the Zonal Coordinator of Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development in the Southwest, Martin Mary Falana has countered the notion that indecent dressing is responsible for instances of rape in the society.

Falana made this disclosure while speaking with journalists at the end of a two-day workshop organized by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Akure to address issues of harmful traditional practises and gender based violence against women and girls.

According to him, a rapist is a rapist as cases abound where children who wear pampers or young girls who resides in Hiijab wearing communities have been defiled by rapist.

Falana, while commending NICO for coming up with the initiative, called on the people to take collective steps at ending the ugly trend saying those caught perpetrating the act must be allowed to face the full wrath of the law.

“The truth of the matter is that the issue of rape has to do with the ability to control self and this is what we must preach”, he added.

While commending NICO for its timely intervention, Falana also spoke on the issue of female gender mutilation saying it is wickedness for anybody to tamper with the female genitailia.

“I was happy that the traditional birth attendants were also here to listen to Professors speak to them on this issue. It is wickedness for anybody to tamper with the female genitailia though they have different reasons for doing this which is not scientifically proven. But all in all, it has been an enriching and engaging time for all stakeholders”, he further added just as he urged the people to begin to take steps to do away with harmful traditional practises against women and girls.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Iwu Hyacinth, Director, Knowledge Mill International Foundation lamented on the nature of dresses by female students in the universities and blamed men and guys who fall victim. Every man should be able to control his sexual urge. “Indecent dressing should never ever be the justification for rape” said Dr. Iwu

The two day programme featured 5 prominent lectures on harmful traditional practises against women by experts in different fields and it also afforded stakeholders including civil society Organizations, the opportunity to chart way forward.