SlutWalk: Shifting Responsibility for Rape from the Victim/Survivor to the Sex Offender.

Changing a ‘Don’t get raped’ culture to a ‘Don’t rape’ culture.

From 2pm tomorrow Auckland’s first SlutWalk will begin gathering at the bottom of Queen St (Queen Elizabeth Square/Britomart) and will walk up Queen Street to Aotea Square.

There will be a rally at 3pm with speakers including Dr Kim McGregor of Rape Prevention Education and Louise Nicholas, Survivor Advocate with Rape Prevention Education.

The walk is in a bid to raise awareness about and challenge commonly-held attitudes towards rape and sexual violence.

SlutWalk originated in Toronto earlier this year after a police officer caused outrage by advising that women should “stop dressing like sluts” in order to avoid sexual violence.

SlutWalks have or will take place this year in over 30 cities around the globe. New Zealand SlutWalks are being held in Auckland and Wellington on Saturday the 25th June.

SlutWalk is a global movement making a stand against the widely-held victim blaming attitude of suggesting that women are in any way at fault for their experiences of sexual violence.

In New Zealand rape and sexual violence takes a heavy toll with approximately 1 in 4 females and 1 in 8 males likely to experience some form of sexual violence, most before the age of 16 years.

Dr Kim McGregor, Director, Rape Prevention Education says “Sexual violence happens to babies, children, adolescents, women, and men of every culture, economic status, ability, sexuality - no matter what they say, how they act or what they wear.

Telling women what to wear is missing the point. It is the sex offender who commits the crime. It is the sex offender who needs to change his or her behaviour.

SlutWalks are about putting responsibility back on to the sex offender and about changing a ‘Don’t get raped’ culture to a ‘Don’t rape’ culture.”

SlutWalks have attracted some controversy because of its name.

McGregor says “Whatever the response to the word, SlutWalks are an opportunity to bring together all of those who stand against sexual violence and who challenge the notion that how a women dresses will cause a man to rape her. These ideas are harmful and offensive to both women and men.”

“This action is not about dressing up like a slut - people can come dressed however they wish, we just ask that you come.

To help lift the silence and shame that surrounds sexual violence in this country we need to make a unified stand against blaming victims of sexual violence and we need to demand respect for all.”

Rape Prevention Education supports the New Zealand Slut Walks on the 25th June in Auckland and Wellington.

For more information go to http://www.slutwalkaotearoa.com or www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=195743960467153

ENDS

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