Moral regeneration is the solution to gender-based violence, says Andy Kawa, rape survivor and entrepreneur who spoke at Rhodes University On Wednesday 30 July on the eve of the annual Silent Protest event.
Moral regeneration is the solution to gender-based violence, says Andy Kawa, rape survivor and entrepreneur who spoke at Rhodes University On Wednesday 30 July on the eve of the annual Silent Protest event.
"Enough of silence,enough of fear, enough of apathy, enough of tolerance towards rape and gender based violence," she said.
Thousands of Rhodes students and staff, along with members of the Grahamstown community, are expected to gather on Friday and march the streets in the annual RU Silent Protest.
The event is regarded as the largest protest against rape and sexual violence in South Africa and aims to show solidarity with people who are silenced by sexual violence.
Kawa and fellow rape survivor Dave Luis set the tone for today's event. Discussion ranged from the stigma associated with rape to how communities can be educated about sexual abuse.
"The principle of ubuntu is no longer being applied in our societies,we need moral regeneration," Kawa said. Luis said one in six boys are raped in South Africa. He said the most frightening aspect of rape was that victims were often delusional about whether they were raped or not. This was because the perpetrators often made them feel as if they had called for it.
Kawa described the vision of the campaign, Kwanele: Enough is Enough, against rape and gender-based violence. She told Grocott's Mail the campaign aimed to develop an open approach to speaking up about rape and getting help. Kawa and Luis said while rape is a brutal crime, its perpetrators were nevertheless humans who were dysfunctional and in need of help.
Silent protest organiser Kim Barker, a post-doctoral student in the Rhodes psychology department, says many rape survivors use the Silent Protest as part of their healing process. Barker, together with the Rhodes Gender Action Forum (GenAct), is organising it for Rhodes Student Affairs as an independent contractor.
“We hope to grow the Silent Protest into an ongoing programme of events which opens up dialogue around gender, violence and relationships,” Barker said.
The protest is scheduled to take place today from 6am at Alec Mullins Hall and ends at 8pm, when participants gather for the 'Take Back the Night' March from the Cathedral to the Rhodes campus.
Find the Silent Protest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/731250190226108/?ref=70
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RUSilent
Visit the website for more information: http://www.ru.ac.za/studentaffairs/resources/silentprotest/
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