Controversy in South Africa over device to snare rapists

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/co...o-snare-rapists/2005/09/01/1125302683893.html

A medieval device built on hatred of men? Or a cheap, easy-to-use invention that could free millions of South African women from fear of rape, in a country with the world's worst sexual assault record?

Dubbed the "rape trap", trademarked "Rapex", the condom-like device bristling with internal hooks designed to snare rapists has re-ignited controversy over South Africa's alarming rape rate, even before plans for its production were announced in Western Cape this week.

Some say the inventor, Sonette Ehlers, a former medical technician, deserves a medal, others that she needs help.

The device, concealed inside a woman's body, hooks onto a rapist during penetration and must be surgically removed.

Ms Ehlers said the rape trap would be so painful for a rapist that it would disable him immediately, enabling his victim to escape; but would cause no long-term physical damage and could not injure the woman.

Some women's activists call the device regressive, putting the onus on women to address a male problem.

Charlene Smith, an anti-rape campaigner, said it "goes back to the concept of chastity belts" and would incite injured rapists to kill their victims.
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"We don't need these nut-case devices by people hoping to make a lot of money out of other women's fear," Ms Smith said.

But Ms Ehlers contends that South Africa's rape problem is so severe women cannot wait for male attitudes to improve.

"I don't hate men. I love men. I have not got revenge in mind. All I am doing is giving women their power back," Ms Ehlers said. "I don't even hate rapists. But I hate the deed with a passion."

The United Nations says South Africa has the world's highest per capita rate of reported rapes - 119 per 100,000 people. Analysts say the total, including unreported rapes, could be nine times higher.

Ms Ehlers sees her invention as particularly attractive to poorer black women, because they often walk long distances through unsafe areas to and from work. She foresees women inserting the device as part of a daily security routine.

She said a majority of women surveyed said they were willing to use the device, which will go into production next year and sell for one rand (20 cents).

Ms Ehlers said she was inspired after meeting a traumatised rape victim who told her, "If only I had teeth down there."

 

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