Sexual abuse: Society’s laughter silences victims — Ark Foundation

Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, has expressed concern over society's tendency to mock sexual abuse, arguing that such a reaction silences victims and undermines efforts to combat the issue. In an interview on Joy News' PM Express, she highlighted how the laughter surrounding an alleged incident at Obuasi Senior High Technical School serves as a warning sign of a troubling societal attitude that disempowers survivors and hampers institutional responses.

Dwamena-Aboagye emphasized that the reaction to the alleged abuse of female students by their headmaster and several peers reflected a troubling indifference that further discourages victims from reporting abuse. She pointed out that close to 80% of sexual violence cases globally remain unreported, citing fear of disbelief, stigma, lack of support, guilt, and survivors' reluctance to confront people they trust as key reasons for the under-reporting.

The Ark Foundation executive director urged society to acknowledge the widespread nature of sexual violence, ranging from harassment to rape, and to respond appropriately, rather than dismissing victims with ridicule or dismissal. She emphasized that the impact of sexual abuse extends beyond the individual survivor, affecting their future well-being, professional life, and relationships, which in turn imposes a significant public health cost on society.