http://disqus.com/by/Delarue/enFri, 03 Jul 2009 14:41:06 -0000http://news.beiruter.com/node/77550#comment-12077944<p>Egypt is taking sex crimes seriously. Sherif Gomaa got three years in jail, with hard labor, for groping a woman's breasts (it wasn't just "harassing a 2è year-old filmmaker"). Now, Sayed has been sentenced to 45 years in jail for sexually assaulting nine women, although he had not raped them. These very harsh sentences will certainly deter a number of potential sex offenders. Still, I wonder if they are not too severe.</p><p>Several months ago, I suggested that Sherif Gomaa might have been given a shorter sentence, six months for instance, again with hard labor, but also be forced to apologize publicly, on TV, or to clean the streets in his hometown, wearing a sign "I have insulted a woman, I deserve to be punished". I am against public shaming sentences in general, but these men love to humiliate women and the punishment fits the crime. A very powerful deterrent. We, men, are scared of having our dignity taken away.</p><p>Several years in prison, with hard labor, might also be enough for the "Maadi serial killer", who hasn't killed anyone, again with a number of public sessions in which he would apologize to women's groups, answer questions, express his remorse, live on TV, or to more limited audiences.</p><p>Boys should also learn very early that girls and women must be respected. Even in schools, the smallest incidents of sexual harassment should be treated seriously, with light punishments, at least for first offenders, but public punishments. Apologizing to the girls involved, doing some community service work on the school-grounds while the other pupils are playing, for instance. A clear message to all boys, and to girls who would be encouraged to report all incidents. The same punishments should apply to bullies who enjoy tormenting weaker boys. I was bullied by older boys when I was 9, I know how devastating it can be.</p><p>Hazing in schools and universities can also be very damaging. This is why I started years ago a campaign againt "bizutage" (hazing in French) and we managed to have it banned by Parliament in 1998, although there are still occasional incidents.</p><p>And since conscription exists in Egypt, at least for a part of the male population, perpetrators of repeated serious offenses could be drafted into disciplinary Army units. A very unpleasant way of spending several of your best years, but I hope that the mere threat might deter most potential perpetrators. Prevention is better than punishment.</p>DelarueFri, 03 Jul 2009 14:41:06 -0000