Last Monday evening, news of the rape of a 23-year-old woman in Makati during New Year’s Day went viral. Reports say there are a dozen suspects, three of whom have been arrested while the rest are still at large. Worse, the accused (not yet found guilty) were said to be trusted friends by the victim. What an abhorrent way to start 2021. In an era when society is supposed to be civilized, heinous crimes such as rape continue to exist. It’s very frustrating that cases of rape remain common up to the present day.
This tragic event should remind us of the need to intensify our efforts to promote a safe and secure society for everyone regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, social status, and any other aspect. A society where women, and men, can comfortably do what they want without the fear of being raped. A society where everyone respects the life and rights of his/her fellow human being.
To attain a world free of rape, society must change itself. We must get rid of medieval mentalities such as victim-blaming because rape is caused by none other than rapists. It is not caused by the clothes the victim wore, or the behavior, or the circumstances. Moreover, instead of telling people what to wear, how about we teach everyone to respect others regardless of what they’re wearing? Most importantly, we must speak up against injustices committed in society and not be silent. As Italian poet Dante Alighieri said, “the darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”
Remember that this latest devastating rape case can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. It can happen to your daughter, your sister, your mother, your cousin, your friends, or anyone you know. Anyone might be raped in the cities or the countryside, in the quiet of the night or in broad daylight. We must do something so that justice would be served to all victims of injustice. That the menace in society that is rape would be no more and would be a thing of the past. That those who are yet to be born will not fall victim to any form of injustice.
JOSHUA CORCUERA
Sampaloc, Manila