April 4, 2006
NEWSRapex aims to ‘cut’ number of rapes
The Rapex, a female anti-rape condom, designed to clasp onto an attacker’s penis, was invented in an effort to cut down the rape crimes in South Africa.
Developed by Sonnette Ehlers, the Rapex prototype will not enter South African markets until the second half of 2006.
Chantel Cooper, director of Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust, described the invention as a device a woman can insert into her vagina when she feels she is at a high risk of getting raped. Upon penetration, “small, burr-like teeth” insert into the tip of the penis. The teeth are removable only by surgery.
Cooper participated in a phone-in talk show where the Rapex was discussed. She said many of the callers felt the device will empower women in protecting themselves from rape.
One in three to one in two people in Africa contract HIV, they are turning to these types of devices out of devastation, said Darcy Olson. Olson is a volunteer for Amnesty International.
According to the South African Police Service, there were 52,733 reported rapes between 2003 and 2004. They continue to receive about 144 reports on a daily basis.
Stereotypes and myths of rape dominate police and judicial systems. Female victims are often blamed for being promiscuous and provoking rape.
“Even if the survivor chooses to proceed through the system, knowing there is only a seven percent conviction rate, she is likely to be subjected to severe secondary victimization by the system itself,” said Cooper.
Rape and violence against women is not a crime committed to satisfy a sexual desire but to fulfill the need for power. Female devices are used to create a balance of power between male and female, said Olson.
The Rapex will protect a woman against vaginal rape. Anal and foreign object penetrations as well as all other forced behaviors are not protected by the Rapex. The Rapex will not protect young boys from victimization.
“Looking for tools for women, to me, is a nice step forward… There is no way one device is going to be a fix,” said Olson.
Although the Rapex is far from entering the United States market, Stephanie Orr, the executive director of the Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, would advise women not to use it.
“The device would not deter a rapist from raping again,” said Orr.
She suggested a rapist could change his style to protect himself from the female’s Anti- rape condom.
“What we need to do is find the solutions to the root causes of rape. And it starts with the relationships between men and women in families, at work and society in general,” said Cooper.
According to the FBI Universal Crime Report the numbers of reported, actual rapes are growing each year in the Valley.
There were 58 rapes reported during 2004, and 70 reported during 2005 to the Mesa Police Department. The Chandler Police Department had an increase from 48 rapes in 2004 to 60 in 2005.
Rape victims in the Valley may contact the 24 hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. The hotline is free.
Volume 43, Issue 12. Today is
| 2004 | 2005 | |
| Mesa | 58 | 70 |
| Chandler | 23 | 32 |
| Phoenix | 241 | 252 |
| Scottsdale | 33 | 29 |
| Gilbert | 21 | 27 |
| Glendale | 48 | 60 |
Illustration by Lu Easton