From: press release on rape & AIDS website Date: 19 September 2000 10:32

RAPE?
HIV?
www.speakout.org.za

SpeakOut is a completely voluntarily website put together by rape survivors and those with HIV.

The brainchild of rape survivor Charlene Smith, the site has been donated by Vodacom and designed free by Vodacom's webdesigners, Electric Ocean. All the data ranging from survivors stories, to how to prevent rape, what to do during and after a rape, types of rapists, how the husbands and fathers of women and girls raped can cope, how to push the police investigation and cope with the court case were researched and put together by rape survivors and experts from Johannesburg to Canada, California to Kimberley in fields as diverse as sexology, criminology, pharmacology, psychology and policing. There is even a test on how to see whether you are at risk of being raped, murdered or robbed, designed by the Nashville Police and adapated and given to SpeakOut with their compliments.

Information on HIV includes how to access antiretrovirals after rape, counselling, how to care for yourself if HIV+, foods, medical care, vitamins, a positive frame of mind. New research into HIV and AIDS everything from medications to statistics. Information ranges from the State of California's new policy (September, 2000) on Post Exposure Prophylaxis after rape to data on microbicides and new drugs. There are special sections for medical practitioners and legal experts (whether police or judges) on best practice, laws, forensics, DNA, investigation techniques and other key information. A huge data base helps readers access everything from counsellors in the Northern Cape, to international organisations working in the field of rape, child abuse, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. And readers are invited to write in to either give their views or solicit more information and help.

For further information write to speakout@global.co.za or access the site at www.speakout.org.za

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