RIGHTS-ALGERIA: When Going to Court Is Too Great a Trial

By Kaci Racelma Reprint | | Print |

Kaci Racelma

ALGIERS, Sep 26 2005 (IPS) - In a sad reflection of the times, the Drop-In Assistance Centre for Female Sexual Harassment Victims has done a bustling trade in the Algerian capital, Algiers, since being established two years ago. Hundreds of women have made use of the centre, which is funded by the General Union of Algerian Workers – the country’s largest labour body.

One of the goals of the institution is to “break the silence” around harassment, says founder Soumia Souilah – another to create a non-governmental organisation which can tackle harassment more vigorously.

However, relatively few of those who visit the centre have taken the all-important step of filing complaints against their aggressors.

“We’re afraid we’ll lose our jobs if we complain, and be left without a livelihood,” a group of sexual harassment victims told IPS.

This point was echoed by a female journalist, who noted that “A working woman who receives a monthly salary to meet the needs of her children will find it very difficult to turn in harassers if it means she could end up without a job.”

While the penalties for harassment are clearly stipulated, women claim that the crime itself can be difficult to prove. “Not only do we not have the material evidence needed to win a suit, but the concept of harassment is still vague and this makes the judicial process difficult,” said the harassment victims.

The experience of those who have run the gauntlet of a trial does nothing to allay such concerns: to date, none have seen their aggressors found guilty.

In the case of allegations made by a group of students from the Dergana university dormitories in Algiers, inquiries appear to be dragging on indefinitely.

Several months ago, the students asked Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to take action against their housing director, whom they accused of sexual harassment, physical aggression and blackmail. The head of state ordered Education Minister Rachid Harraoubia to start investigating the matter, in October 2004.

Almost a year later, however, the inquiry has yet to be completed. Earlier this month the students again demanded that sanctions be ordered against those who were guilty of harassment.

Apart from fears about job losses and the difficulties of taking harassment cases to court, cultural norms also stand in the way of women filing complaints against aggressors: sex is considered a taboo topic in this Islamic country.

In response to these difficulties, the National Committee of Working Women (CNFT) and human rights groups have conducted a campaign over recent months to convince women to take alleged harassers to court.

“It’s not just time to listen,” says Souilah, noting that women need to move beyond the point of simply denouncing sexual harassment.

Persons convicted of the crime can be sentenced to a prison term of up to twelve months, and be fined between 600 and 1,200 dollars. The introduction of jail terms for sexual harassers took place in October last year at the request of the CNFT and the Algerian League for Human Rights – and was considered a significant advance in light of the country’s conservative stance on sexual matters.

According to the CNFT, victims of sexual harassment range in age from 21 to 55 years. Both single and married women are affected by the crime, which is perpetrated in government departments more often than in the private sector – notably in schools and health facilities.

“It’s the total deterioration of our society’s moral values, even though they’re based on Islamic precepts,” said a working woman. “In the past, only single women were harassed – but today, harassers target everyone in their line of sight.”

While some view religion as a bulwark against harassment, others appear to be using it to legitimise this activity.

A press release issued this month by an anonymous group of radical Islamists announced that women should “dress within the norms, or …run the risk of being treated as worthless objects.”

The statement harked back to events in the 1990s when over 150,000 people were killed during a campaign by Islamic extremists. Women were also raped during this wave of violence, while thousands of nationals disappeared without trace.

The campaign was sparked by the 1992 military takeover of Algeria, in the wake of general elections which the Islamic Salvation Front seemed poised to win. The party had posted a convincing performance in the first round of the poll, held in December 1991.