Luminasia, Global - The rising of sexual harassment cases has recently become a global focus. These incidents, while different in motives, always take place within the victims’ familiar environments, such as their families, dormitories or even in the workplace. Cases occurred in regions including India, Turkey, Lahore Pakistan, and Palembang Indonesia, in 2024 capture the world’s attention. This movement have revealed that sexual harassment is and has been shrouded in silence for so long. In the face of sexual harassment, woman and children as victims often remain silent, wittingly or unwittingly protecting perpetrators and allowing harassment to persist. The effects of sexual harassment seep into various whether it be through daily interactions, emotional and physical well-being or wider societal culture.
Among the numerous cases, a high-profile one happened in a dormitory of Oku Uygur Bilig Yurdu, a religious school located in Silivri, Istanbul-Turkey which Several girls were sexually assaulted by Ahmet Kadeer, a teacher of Oku Uygur Bilig Yurdu, which is a Muslim religious school in Turkey founded by Uyghur Science and Merit Foundation. For in this case, we thankful to the joint statement against workplace sexual harassment signed by Dr Alicia and some other scholars. Their successfully fighting for the rights and justice of women in the Muslim world and we inspired by that actions to stand for justice among all mankind. Regarding the issues, furthermorec we had an interview with Dr Alicia.
“Sexual harassment is always very concerning, but even more so when children are affected, and that also requires different approach in resolving this sexual harassment issues.” Dr Alicia said.
Furthermore, Dr Alicia said an Organization only able to act upon accusation when they start to get in to process of self-reflections and understanding the criticism, to mitigate the criticism, to implement measure to protect vulnerable in the organizations.
”The Biggest problem that we faced to fight for justice where people are very scared to speak up as their fear for the punishment in the community. The challenge come to let the victims speak without a fear, hopefully will be able to give the platform to speak up without revealing their identity. Eventually, they are heard and their voices need to be heard. ” Dr Alicia said.
We are hoping to acknowledge the silence breakers, speaking for the voices of millions of people (mostly woman) to speak up about sexual harassment, we identify ways that can employ an understanding of social networks to intervene in the social force, which woman bravely spoke up and shared their experiences regarding sexual harassment without getting fear. Social media and social justice could be a real movement, by growing number of people to make substantive change, and its encouraging people who get sexual harassment to speak up and make the better life for justice to all mankind. We call for more people to get involved to the mission of savings human rights, woman and child. More voices to be heard, more change for better future.
Indonesia is the biggest Moslem democracy in the world. We hope to inform the Indonesian people of these incidents as well, as we need commitment and collaboration from fellow Moslem communities to end the silence of harassment in supposedly religious community. We need worldwide solidarity in order to end sexual violence and we hope this article would spark discussion on the topic.
