Silent No More: Empowering Harassment and Abuse Survivors to Speak Out

Highlights:

Emotional Burdens: Survivors of sexual harassment and abuse often struggle with shame, guilt, anxiety, and stigma
Overlooking Trauma: Existing systems fail to acknowledge the immediate aftermath of trauma and the complex emotions survivors experience
Empathetic Support: By prioritizing safety, support, and control for survivors, society can create a safer environment that encourages survivors to come forward

A recent study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly sheds light on the reasons survivors of sexual harassment and abuse often wait before taking formal action. The study reveals that survivors' needs differ from what complaint systems typically offer.

Rather than immediately processing their experiences and seeking immediate support, survivors often struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, and stigma. These emotional burdens must be confronted before survivors can even consider the potential repercussions of disclosure ().

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‘How can we create systems aligned with the needs of harassment and abuse survivors? #SexualHarassment #SexualAbuse’

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The Trauma and Psychological Barriers

Sexual harassment and abuse have a profound and lasting impact on survivors' emotional well-being. Recounting these traumatic experiences can trigger vivid memories, nightmares, panic attacks, and flashbacks, intensifying the survivor's distress.

Making a formal complaint requires survivors to revisit their trauma, an act that many find overwhelming and a deterrent to their healing process. The need for justice, often assumed by others, is not always the highest priority for survivors, who prioritize safety and social support instead.

Quiz on Inquest

Introduction

In India, when there is a suspicious or unnatural death in the community, the police must be informed as per the law. The investigating officer then decides if a medico-legal autopsy is required based on the circumstances. Inquests are conducted under Sections 174 and 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code to create an official record of the incident and determine if a crime has been committed. This process is known as “Inquest.”

The right to know the cause of death is protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Primary care physicians in government healthcare centers often deal with medico-legal autopsies and inquests. Even vaccine-related and maternal mortality deaths require autopsies to determine the cause of death ().

In this quiz, you can gain valuable knowledge about the Inquest and its types. There are 10 questions in this quiz, so that one can understand important aspects of Inquest and the processes involved in it. The topics covered are:

What is inquest ()
Types of inquest ()
Coroner’s inquest ()
Police inquest ()
Magistrate inquest ()
Medical examiner’s system ()
What is CrPC ()

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Limitations of Current Systems and Expectations

Existing systems designed to address sexual harassment often fail to acknowledge the immediate aftermath of trauma and the complex emotions survivors experience. These systems assume that survivors will promptly report their experiences, overlooking the challenges survivors face in recognizing their assault, processing shame and guilt, and navigating the potential consequences of disclosure.

Additionally, the lack of support systems, resources, and awareness of available legal options further discourages survivors from coming forward and seeking justice.

Rethinking Expectations and Creating Empathetic Support

It is crucial to acknowledge the unique needs and challenges faced by survivors of sexual harassment and abuse. Expecting survivors to immediately report their experiences disregards the complexities of their trauma and the lack of adequate support systems.

Restorative justice approaches, which prioritize safety, support, and control for survivors, offer a more holistic and empowering alternative to formal legal systems. By understanding survivors' needs and providing empathetic and non-judgmental support, society can create a safer environment that encourages survivors to come forward when they are ready, rather than forcing them into premature or retraumatizing actions.

Reference:

The impact of sexual abuse on female development: Lessons from a multigenerational, longitudinal research study - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693773/)

Source-Medindia

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