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Sexual violence in Côte d'Ivoire: the young generation wants to end impunity
Audio 13:38
Exchange with students during the Festico, the festival of consent, on March 11 and 12, 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
© RFI/François Hume-Ferkatadji
By: Alexandra Cagnard Follow
3 mins
How to free speech, to break the taboos that surround sexual violence in Côte d'Ivoire?
The omerta remains very present.
But, in university circles for example, the younger generation is stepping up actions to get things moving.
François Hume-Ferkatadji, RFI correspondent in Abidjan investigated at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, he recounts the difficulties he encountered and the reactions after the broadcast of his report.
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In this episode of
Witnesses to the news
,
François Hume-Ferkatadji,
begins by explaining what motivated his desire to work on this subject: "
I had already tried to work on an investigation, two years ago, which did not succeed because the witnesses recanted, and made me promise not to publish anything.
I have also had many discussions with friends here who tell me about their job interviews, for example, during which it is made clear to them that they will be hired if they engage in sexual acts with the boss.
And then there is also this increasingly organized generation of feminists.
They carry all these questions and make you want to work on this subject
”.
"
What struck me
, continues François,
is that sexual violence is placed as one of the number one problems of the university and I did not expect to have such testimonies from men like of women
”.
If violence and intimidation exist between students, they are also very present between students and teachers: "
It has even become a system,
says François
, that is to say that some young girls think that you have to sleep with his teacher to get good grades
.
Collecting testimonials can be complicated.
“
There are a number of students who flatly refused to speak publicly.
I tried to convince them by explaining to them that their identity would be protected, that talking can make a lot of things happen, but fear takes over
”.
François Hume-Ferkatadji, also explains that the law on rape was modified in 2019. "
Rape is punishable by 5 to 20 years' imprisonment, and even life imprisonment if it resulted in mutilation or infirmity.
There is a second important step, a ministerial decree now indicates that when filing a complaint, it is no longer mandatory to provide a medical certificate.
This certificate had to be paid for and many women could not afford it
”.
The reactions after the broadcast of the report were numerous, especially on social networks.
“
It's quite rare to receive so many messages after a report,
says François,
many young activists have written to me to tell me that this gave them a tool to listen to during their various awareness workshops.
Other women contacted me to tell me that they had been victims and that it had made them want to testify
”.
And François concludes: “
There is a new generation that wants to move the lines within Ivorian society.
These young activists are called feminists 2.0.
They are very audible, very effective and now have a very significant impact in society.
Tomorrow, they may have a political role to play in Côte d'Ivoire
”.
►Also listen: Ivory Coast: sexual violence at university, the urgency to break the omerta
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