prevention

Rape Protective Measures

By being aware, a woman can reduce the likelihood of being raped. This does not mean all rapes can be prevented. Rapists commit rape, you can't take responsibility for the actions of a criminal/s.

Psychological Preparedness

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1. Many women operate under the illusion "it will never happen to me. It may.

2. Educate yourself concerning rape prevention tactics.

3. Become familiar with community rape prevention and counseling.

In a Dating/Friend Situation

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1. In the USA most rapes are "acquaintance rapes" - the rapist and victim know one another. However, in SA most child rapes are people the children know such as family members or teachers, but among adults, you are more likely to be raped by a stranger - in your own home.
Listen to your instinct. If you become uncomfortable in a situation, assertively ask the person to leave. Don't worry about hurt feelings.

2. Let a friend or roommate know who you are with and where you will be. Leave an address and phone number when possible.

In Your Car

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    Keep windows and doors locked, always.
    Always check your rearview mirror, and if you think you are being followed drive to a police station.
   When approaching your home slow down, put lights on bright, and scan the street. Ensure you have a well lit drive way and entrance. If you see anyone or anything that makes you anxious, drive around the block or phone the police or the armed response company to which you subscribe. Never stop or get out of your car if you have noticed something strange.
When parking at night, select a place that will be well-lit when returning to the car.
  Always make sure the car is locked, and have the keys ready when returning to the car - do not have them openly displayed or dangling from your hands. Don't have the keys buried in your handbag and stand outside in day or night scrabbling for your keys in your handbag.

5. Check interior of car before getting in.

On the Street

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1. Be observant of things around you. If someone is following you, go to the nearest police station.
2. Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubbery, dark doorways and other places of concealment.
3. DO NOT HITCHHIKE.
4. Avoid short cuts through parking lots and alleys, or across building sites, open lots or the veld.
5. Walk with a friend if at all possible. Don't walk alone. Don't accept a strange man's offer to escort you for "your safety."
6. If a car approaches you and you feel threatened, scream and run in the direction opposite of the one the car is going.
7. When arriving home by taxi or getting a lift, ask the driver to wait until you are inside.
8. Don't jog in secluded areas.
9. Always have your cellphone programmed to the 112 emergency number.

In Your Home

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1. The best lock cannot function if you fail to lock it. Keep your doors locked.
2. All windows should have secure locks, frames and burglar bars. Don't leave a window open close to a door lock so a burglar or rapist can easily unlock and open it.
3. All entrances and garages should be well-lit.
4. Never open the door after a knock. Ask the person to give their name. In the case of service persons ask for proper I.D. and refuse entrance if you feel uneasy. Have a eyehole where you can see who it is and keep the door on a latch.

If You Are Sexually Assaulted

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The best resistance you can use against an attacker is your common sense, your brain is your most powerful weapon. Think! Don't panic. The most important element to remember is that you are not trying to fight the attacker, but are attempting to divert the person long enough to get away. Always look for a way to escape.

If the attacker has a weapon, use your common sense. Fighting against it could be dangerous and will probably get you killed.

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1. Stay calm. Do not do anything that may upset the attacker, do not insult him/them, spit at them, criticise them - lots won't be able to maintain an erection, if they feel you are judging them you will be in danger.
2. Try to convince the person to put the weapon down.
3. Talk to your attacker, show sympathy and understanding.
4. Make the attacker see you as an individual, not as an object. If the attacker is unarmed, you may be able to scare, distract or injure the person enough to make your escape - don't be stupid no-one tells people hijacked to fight for possession of the gun or the car - a rape is more intimate and dangerous - don't risk your life.

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1. Scream "HELP" "RAPE", "POLICE," or create a disturbance that will attract attention.
2. Fight back if you can do so safely - never try fighting indoors only in a public place where other people may hear your screams (they won't always).
3. Break away if you can and run toward areas with people.
4. Be observant so that you will be able to remember and identify the assailant, but don't let him or them see you are studying them and remember their clothes are less important than noticing physical characteristics - a tatoo, a scar, hair colour, the slant of their eyes ....
5. Report the incident to the police as soon as possible. If you don't want to report to the police at least phone Crime Stop where you can make an anonymous report - protect the next woman he will try and rape. If you are raped get to a hospital, doctor or clinic as fast as possible to get onto anti-retrovirals to stop HIV - you have to get onto these within 72 hours of the rape, the faster you get onto the drugs the better your chances of not contracting the virus.

Checklist for Survivors of Sexual Assault

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1. Report the crime immediately to the police.
2. Immediately go to a hospital, clinic or doctor for antiretrovirals - the police statement can wait. Make sure the doctor fills out a form J88 and does a proper forensic exam if you are going to report the rape, he or she must note bruises, cuts and other wounds, they must comb your pubic hair, they must stand you over a sheet of paper so that any forensic evidence that falls off you can be collected and given to police forensic officers. They will take your clothes for forensic tests and you won't get them back so take clean clothes to change into.
2. Do not shower, wash, or change clothing. Take a clean pair of clothes if possible to wherever it is you are getting examined because if you have laid a charge the police may need to take your clothes for a forensic exam - these will not get returned because the forensic examiner will cut them up to extract tests.
3. Have a medical exam and internal gynaecological exam as quickly as possible after the attack. A delay may destroy evidence.
a) Semen and/or saliva smears must be taken by a doctor.
b) Inform doctor of exact acts committed upon you and have the doctor note any medical evidence of them.
c) Doctor should note any bruises or injuries bleeding, lacerations, etc.) external or internal.
d) Have doctor test for HIV and hepatitis.
e) The doctor must give you the morning after pill to limit the chances of pregnancy (it is not failproof so monitor your periods, most women after rape have an unexpected "period" about a week to 10 days after the attack were they will often bleed very heavily and if pregnant they may lose the baby); he or she must give you penicillin or antibiotics to prevent any infections; they will give you medicines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Ask for anti-retrovirals such as AZT and 3TC or Nevaripine and if gangraped get a protease inhibitor such as Crixivan, it is vital that you get these within 72 hours or less from the time of the first attempted penetration by the rapist. Stick to the prescribed dosages for the prescribed length of time. Do not drink while on the medication.
f) You will battle to sleep after the rape and may become very anxious get a week's worth of sleeping pills and maybe tranquillisers to help you cope but be very wary of taking more psychiatric medication or consuming alcohol during this time because depression can easily make you dependent; you have to learn coping skills without drugs.
4. Do not disturb the scene of the attack. Do not clear up or clean up, do not touch anything. If the rape took place in your home do not allow anyone but the police into the room where it happened.
5. Inform police of all details of attack and of anything unusual you may have noted about the attacker. Remember what the person said and how it was said - did he have an accent? Pay attention to what he looks like and any identifying marks such as scars or tatoos -without staring at him or them - their bodily characteristics are more important than what they are wearin
g. It may lead to the arrest of the assailant.
6. Show police any external bruises or injuries, however minor, resulting from the attack. If you feel pain in other parts of your body inform them and the medical examiner.
7. Police may request your clothes for evidence.
8. Inform the police, even if weeks later, if you remember anything that was not previously reported.
9. If there are parts of the attack you cannot remember, do not fret some people never remember, while others only remember days, weeks or months later. Tell the police everything you remember. If you do not report the crime to police at least inform Crimestop where you can give an anonymous message to protect other women or children from being raped.