Unbecoming of man
There has lately been an upsurge in online harassment of women in addition to the abnormal rise in physical violence against them in the country. This shows men with criminal tendencies have got it as their birth right to torment women, and they seem to be exercising this ‘right’ unfettered. Brutal killings, rape and savage harassment of women are taking place with sickening regularity and simultaneously the number of cases of online harassment has increased exponentially.
The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that in less than eight months the Cybercrime Wing of the FIA in Lahore has received 6,168 complaints pertaining to sexual harassment out of a total of 14, 108 applications submitted requesting investigation into cybercrimes. The figures for cases of sexual harassment are very high indicating the level of fear and helplessness prevailing among women. The FIA says complaints of sexual harassment are increasing at an abnormally fast rate. University and college students have lodged most of the complaints of sexual harassment largely relating to blackmailing by peers through the use of doctored video clips and photographs from calls or chats on WhatsApp and Facebook. Videos and pictures recorded during interaction in classrooms, recess and recreation are being used for extracting sexual favour from women, for monetary gain and other nasty purposes. A large number of cases also pertained to matrimonial disputes and estrangement after the break-up of relationships. Working women too have lodged complaints of harassment.
The FIA attributes online crimes to the ignorance of the relevant technology on the part of the users. Users commit a mistake when they sell mobile phones and computers to others without deleting pictures and videos. Individual buyers and shopkeepers use such videos and images for immoral purposes. People must make sure they delete pictures and videos before selling their devices. The rot can be stopped both by coercive measures and by convincing men that it is unbecoming of man born of woman to misbehave with women.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.