The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South, Felicia Adjei, has made an impassioned plea to men to take responsibility for their actions and respect women’s rights, urging them to “zip up” rather than blame victims of sexual harassment and assault.

She made the statement on the floor of Parliament during discussions to mark International Women’s Day, which is themed “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment.”

Expressing her concern, she highlighted the plight of vulnerable women, including female street vendors (kayayei), domestic workers, and young girls living with relatives, many of whom, she said, suffer daily sexual abuse but are silenced by fear and societal pressure.

“Every year, we celebrate International Women’s Day, but we leave out the women selling in the streets, the kayayei, who are raped daily. Many young girls living with relatives suffer sexual harassment from their fathers or uncles but cannot speak up,” she lamented.

She recounted a recent case where a young househelp was repeatedly harassed by her employer’s husband but was blamed for her actions. “Instead of holding the man accountable, relatives told the girl she was ‘spoiling the marriage’ because of the way she dressed,” she said.

Hon. Adjei called on men to take responsibility for their actions and reject the culture of victim-blaming.

“If you are a man and you see a young lady wearing a dress you think is transparent or you think their bumbum is shaking, please zip up. It is not her fault,” she stressed.