Women victims of sextortion have petitioned MPs to amend the law to clearly define the offence and provide penalties for the crime....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Sextortion is the abuse of power to coerce individuals into providing sexual favours.
The vice has also gone online, where a predator tricks someone into giving them nude images or videos, and then demands money, more images, or makes other demands—threatening to share the images with the victim’s friends and family if they don’t comply.
Sextortion also involves adults coercing kids and teens into sending explicit images online
Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris said the vice has become a pressing issue in the country, causing immense harm to victims and eroding trust in public and private institutions.
In a petition presented to the National Assembly on behalf of the victims by Passaris, the women further want the new law to provide support for the victims of the crime.
The petition has proposed amendments to the Penal Code, the Sexual Offences Act and any other relevant criminal laws.
“..take any other measures necessary and appropriate in the circumstances of this petition to address the menace of sextortion to protect the rights and dignity of all Kenyans,” the petition reads.
“Demands for sex in exchange for essential resources, services a opportunities is both an infringement of human rights and a significant obstacle to achieving development goals predicated on gender equality, transparent and accountable governance,” Passaris said.
She noted that Kenyan laws do not specifically recognise or define sextortion as a form of sexual exploitation, harassment and corruption, thus hindering effective prosecution and victim protection.
“Although Section 37 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Ac 2018 addresses certain aspects related to sextortion, there remains critical need to comprehensively address this issue within the broader legal context,” she added.
In the petition, Passaris further noted that sextortion disproportionately affects vulnerable women and girls due to poverty, lack of education, political disenfranchisement, and various forms of disability, although men and boys are also susceptible.
She said the unchecked prevalence of sextortion not only inflicts immediate harm upon individuals but also undermines efforts to empower women and ensure their full and equal participation in society, thus impeding sustainable development..CONTINUE READING>>
