Rape Crisis in South Africa

Lesbians in South Africa are being sexually assaulted at an alarming rate. There is a genuine belief among a large number of African men and boys that they can teach a lesbian how to become a “normal women” by forcing themselves on them. They call this practice “Corrective Rape” and in Cape Town alone a reported 10 new cases occur each week. And it’s not just the lesbians themselves who are being raped. If they have children the assailants are raping them as well.
Meanwhile, People magazine recently reported: “Globe-trotting traveled to South Africa for the April 2, opening of one and only Cape Town where they nibbled on panisis and sushi prepared by Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsushia.   Matt Damon and wife Luciana chatted with Robert DeNiro, while Mariah Carey (there with husband Nick Cannon) treated guest to a rendition of “I’m ready” and Marisa Tomei cozied up to boyfriend Logan Marshall-Green” (Cape Town’s Big Night, April 20, 2009). I wonder if any of these celebrities knew or even cared that while they were partying the night away. South Africa was experiencing one of their worst rape epidemics ever. 
The rape epidemic in South Africa targeted all women, not just lesbians. Tens of thousands of rapes are reported annually yet an estimated 24 of 25 accused rapists go free. And here’s another sad fact. Between 2006 nearly 55,000 women in South Africa claim to have been raped.
One contributing factor to this crisis is that many young African men don’t see rape a crime, but rather a rite or a natural part of life. Some even admitted that they believe girls who wear short skirts do so because they want boys to have their way with them. Men with HIV/AIDS also play a role in this problem. Some think they can cur their disease by having sex with a virgin and age is irrelevant; the youngest reported victim was a 9 month old baby girl. And there’s a real belief among school age boys that lesbians can be cured if they are correctively raped.
So far the South African government has done little if anything at all to stop this violence against women. I am writing this article in hopes of bringing public awareness on the issue and I encourage everyone to research the facts for themselves. Through social networking sites, I also urge you to contact your favorite celebrity and tell them that they can make a difference by boycotting South Africa and South African products (such as diamonds) and by speaking openly and publicly on behalf of the victims. Their voices have a tendency of being heard around the world.
But it has to start with you.