Q.2.2.RAPE-THE COLD HARD FACTS

Q.2.2 Rape – The Cold Hard Facts

Interpol has named South Africa the “Rape Capital of the World”. According to the United Nations, a woman or child is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa. These statistics shine a very bad light on our beautiful country. Something that is so easily prevented is corrupting our country and forcing our community to live in fear.

Below, I have applied the solution fluency process to come up with pragmatic solutions to this problem.

Define the problem: South Africa has one of the highest reported incidents of rape in the world. Rape culture exists because society has accepted the degradation of women and the hyper-sexually of men as the norm. (The Nation, 2013)

Discover a solution: We need to educate the nation on rape and that it is not okay. We need to ensure that our legal system doesn’t blame the victim for rape but rather the perpetrator for their actions. We need to teach the nation what consent looks like, and encourage the media to engage in conversations about anti-rape products. We need to stop promoting the idea that all rapes are committed by strangers. Many rapes that have taken place have been done so by a family member or a close friend. Rape can take place anywhere, anytime, and anyone could be a perpetrator or a victim. Finally, we need to enforce stricter rape laws, which may decrease the number of rapes committed annually.

Dream up a process: The perfect world would be one where no rapes could be committed, and the community would be able to live freely without fear. The ideal situation would be one where the number of rape incidents that take place annually in South Africa could decrease drastically.

Design the plan of action: Non-profit organisations that stand against rape can be called upon to help with the problem of rape in South Africa. The South African community can also be called upon to unite and to stand against the rape culture which is plaguing South Africa.

Deliver the plan of action: Non-profit organisations such as ‘Woman Against Rape’ can come together to educate the South African community on rape, and place pressure on the legal system to enforce stricter rape laws. Non-profit organisations such as ‘Women Against Rape’ provide security and comfort to rape victims, and encourage victims to speak out against their perpetrators.

Debrief about results: Rape culture in South Africa is thriving and the only way to end it is to empower men and women to change their views on rape and to take a stand against the senseless crimes that are being committed everyday in our beloved country. We need to unite as a nation against rape and rid our country of the corruption that has taken over.