The power of this movement has been its ability to show the world how pervasive sexual harassment is.
And its had an effect on perpetrators.
But is Africa part of this global movement against sexual violence?
Theres been virtuallyno mention of Africa or the Middle East.
Most are happening outside the digital space.
Her campaign wasnt on social media and didnt become global.
But it has now been tagged on to the digital campaign.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
So why didnt the #MeToo make big inroads into Africa?
The very visibility of this kind of action makes them more vulnerable.
Women are also afraid that their families mayfind out about the abuse.
Women are therefore silenced by cultures of respectability.
And in many countries women are quite aware that the law wont protect them.
But women in many African countries have staged street protests.
This enables them to avoid individualized attention, but nevertheless makes their causes visible.
In Senegal two young womenstarted #Nopiwoumato challenge Senegals silence on gender based violence.
It means I will not shut up in Wolof.
The campaign #Doyna, also in Senegal means thats enough.
South Africa has avery high incidenceof gender based violence.
In Uganda, MP Sylvia Rwabwogo filed a complaint against a man who had stalked her for eight months.
Organisations such as the African Union (AU) have also failed women when it comes to sexual assault.
In January 2018, women staffers appealed to senior officials to end harassment in the AU.
The matter was only dealt with after it reached the media.
She herself was in an abusive relationship fornearly eight years.
There was abig push backby men against the campaign because some felt they were all being stigmatized.
This doesnt appear to be a problem confined to South Africa.
Globally men have problems showing solidarity with women speaking out against sexual harassment, assault and rape.
This was clearly evident in Brett Kavanaughs case in the US.
Accused of attempted rape, he went onto be confirmedas a judge of the US Supreme Court.
