A recent study on rape by the South Africa Medical Research Council came as a strong reminder on the severity of the rape situation in South Africa.

According to the study 1 in 4 men have already forced a women to have sex with him. Rape is generally accepted in wide parts of the society.

The police statistics show 86 women and 64 minor girls being raped each day.

30% of adolescents stated that their first sexual encounter was based on rape.

The reported number of rapes per year is 55,000. The University of South Africa estimates that the real number is around 1 million. If this number is correct one woman in South Africa is forced to have sex every 30 seconds.

16% of South African men that know a rape victim believe that she wanted to have sex and actually enjoyed it.

ActionAid states that out of 25 men that are accused 24 are being acquitted.

Most adolescents in South Africa don’t even know the definition of rape.

Leading expert Rachel Jewkes of MRC conducted a survey with 1738 men in the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal provinces:

• 25% of the men admitted to having raped a women at least once.
• 75% of the men were younger than 20 at their first rape.
• 50% of the rapists have done it more than once.
• 20% of the rapists were HIV positive.
• 10% of the rapists stated that they were 10 or younger at their first rape.

A study of the NGO CIET Trust showed that 40% of the students below 18 years of age have been raped at least once. 20% of these rapes were done by their teachers.

In many cases it is not the least educated men committing the rapes. The more educated men feel more empowered. Mr. Rachel Jewkes stated that only the ones with power can actually abuse it.

Most sex education in South Africa seems to take place among peers. Boys teach other boys that raping a girl will turn the into a “real man”.

Another fundamental problem is the lack of male role models. There are simply not enough dads that could show the other way to their children.

Just in case you wondered why we started our little South Africa Project…

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