My trigger was a news article. The rape victim was only 8 months old. I have a 20 month old daughter myself and I realised something important.
For 20 years I was sexually assaulted by three different relatives.
Only seven when it first happened, I don’t remember details but I can feel the fear, the uneasiness and most of all the hatred still sitting inside me.
When I told my mom I was discouraged to talk about it. I later found out my younger sister was sexually assaulted too.
Sadly the first thing a victim often hears is “don’t tell anyone, it will ruin your reputation” or “you should have been more careful”.
Sex education should be taught at both school and home. But here it’s a big ‘no-no’.
However I promise to educate and always listen to my daughter and will do whatever it takes to normalise sexual abuse and call out victim shaming. For her I’m confronting my past to protect her future.
Story by: Tasmia Bushra Deea
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