For every survivor story that has been shared, there are countless survivors that are living in fear and silence. Abused daily and too afraid to speak up . They are threatened with even more violence, convinced they would be blamed, ashamed they would be judged with no one to believe them. There is a wall of silence around discussions of sexual violence and every time a survivor speaks out, it creates a crack in that wall. Every time she shares her...
Rapists rape. The accountability and the shame lies with them and them alone and not with the survivor. And the rest of us? We have a role to play too. We can no longer be bystanders watching as these acts occur in our homes, schools, offices and neighbourhoods. We need to intervene and be our brother and sisters keepers. Stand up and defend the more vulnerable and oppressed in our society. It is our collective responsibility to do so. See something? Say something! Save...
Sexual Consent is an agreement to participate in sexual activity between two adults (over the legal age of 18). It is a vital concept that needs to be understood when it comes to intimate relations between men and women as it must be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. When there is no consent, it is sexual violation or rape. If you are forced to have sex against your will, if you say no, asleep, unconscious, under the influence of...
During sexual assaults that involve penetrative sex, women are exposed to infections as perpetrators do not typically use any forms of contraception such as condoms. This leads to a higher incidence of HIV/AIDS cases. If untested, women run the risk of spreading this infection to others and if untreated, can lead to death. The use of Post- Exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P) treatment of HIV with the appropriate drugs within 72 hours of the assault reduces the risk of infection. This treatment is available...
