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Monday 21 October 2013

RAPE CULTURE


I live in a nation where a culture of sexual violence is deeply embedded in society. South Africa currently holds the title of rape capital of the world. There is an estimated stat that a woman is raped every 17 seconds in South Africa.
Let’s stop here for a moment.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,RAPE,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,RAPE,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,RAPE,1,2,3,4,5……
When we hear of another child that has been raped and then murdered we don’t think much about it, as this has become the norm within our society. It is estimated that over 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime and that only 1 in 9 rapes are reported. It is also estimated that 14% of perpetrators of rape are convicted in South Africa. These shocking stats need to become more than numbers or just another news headline for us. The reality of the situation can so easily be swept under the rug, “it has nothing to do with me”, “men are just horny and so sexually perverse”, “why isn’t the government doing anything about this?” I’ve heard these kind of comments thrown around many times. I fear we so easily detach ourselves from a problem until it affects us, until it is our sister who becomes another number, or our daughter who has to testify in court, against another “suspect”,  “who couldn’t help himself”, “it’s part of his culture”.. We often only find ourselves fighting against a pandemic if it happens to push its way through our comfortable bubble called life.
A rape culture has infiltrated our nation.
In a rape culture, people are surrounded with images, language, laws, and other everyday phenomena that validate and perpetuate, rape. Rape culture makes violence against women seem so normal that people believe that rape is inevitable. Rather than viewing the culture of rape as a problem to change, people in a rape culture think about the persistence of rape as “just the way things are.” Rape culture is you and me accepting that this is normal.
I don’t know about you, but as for me, I don’t want to accept this as being norm in the nation I call home. It’s time for us to open our eyes to the reality of the situation. It’s hard to believe that we could upset such a culture, but it is worth a try!
A while ago I believed there was no way I could make a change, but this is a lie, a lie that will keep each one of us from playing the small part we can. Whether it be changing the way we think, speaking against the norm, donating financially or materially to organisations that are on the frontlines in rape care, praying for victims, etc.
There is a big need for financial aid to support victims of rape. Below are links to three organisations I know of that are doing amazing work to support rape victims in Durban, South Africa. Consider donating or finding out how you can support them in their work.
 
 

Monday 12 November 2012

Selling South Africa's Innocence

The posts I have published so far all contain video's produced by international organisations. Today I want to focus locally and challenge fellow South Africans.

The video below is a local production addressing modern day slavery within South Africa.



A MESSAGE TO FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS:

I am extremely proud to be South African and love living in Durban. I want the best for my country and there are many South African men and woman who want the same and are doing great work in fighting injustice in our land. I believe that we can all play a part in this fight. I encourage you to find out how you can play a part in fighting injustice in South Africa, not only in the area of sexual exploitation but in what ever area may be closest to your heart.

It is easy to speak negatively about SA and complain about our government but if we want change it is going to have to start with us. Instead of asking the government what they are going to do, I believe we should first ask ourselves what we can do...

Friday 9 November 2012

The Sex Trade: Children: Valuable and Vulnerable

Comercial sexual explotation is a fundemental violation of children's rights. The primary factors of commercial sexual exploitation of children are prostitution, pornography, trafficking and sex tourism.

Below is a clip of the history of Love146. Love146 is an NGO combatting the sexual explotation of children by focusing on the prevention, aftercare of victims and research.

I hope you are moved as much as I was by watching this clip and gain a deeper insight of what is going on within the global sex trade.

www.love146.org

Thursday 8 November 2012

Jacob Story. From trafficker to rescuer.

Jacobs Story is a mini-documentry about a man who once made his living by trafficking woman and children for the purpose of commercial sex

Jacob worked as a trafficker for a crime syndicate in JHB. In this film, he speaks openly about his work as a brothel manager and he explains how syndicates all over the world operate as they exploit the weak and powerless.

The greatest part of this story is the transformation that took place in Jacob's life from trafficker to rescuer.

This film was produced by Unearthed Pictures.




 

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Boom Boom, Yum Yum. 9 yr old prositutes. 15 yr old pimps.

Many children around the world are stripped of the innocence that we would normally find so adorable. There is an ever increasing need for young children in the sex industry as men around the world carry on fueling a demand for innocent, 'untouched' boys and girls,

In this shocking footage we see how  children are used not only as prostitues but as pimps as well. A 15 year old boy takes a potential client through an alley to introduce him to the girls that are being sold.


 
The highest rate of child prostitution is found in Thialand but it is a global pandemic and occuring closer then you may think. This article published in the Daily News sheds some light on child prostitution in Durban.