Kenya's unique approach to rape prevention should have the rest of the world taking note

[eridani]

http://www.upworthy.com/kenyas-unique-approach-to-rape-prevention-should-have-the-rest-of-the-world-taking-note/

In many parts of the world, assault prevention starts and ends with what women can do to avoid putting themselves in "high-risk" situations. These are not effective.

Researchers used Kenya's scenario to test the two methods. One group of women received the No Means No training while the other took a life-skills class. Girls who received the No Means No training saw a nearly 40% decrease in rapes in the year following the program. Girls who took the life-skills offering were raped at the same rate.

Not only is teaching women how to avoid "high-risk" situations ineffective, but it shifts the blame to the victim for being raped instead of putting it on the rapist for actually committing the crime.

Committing a crime is a choice, and the No Means No program empowers young boys to choose not to commit that crime.

The world should take a cue from Kenya: Empower girls and teach men not to rape.

This is a proven program, and it's time to roll it out around the world. Suggesting that women are somehow "asking for it" because of something they wear or something they do won't help stop rape. Kenya's approach is wonderful because it empowers and educates instead of blaming and shaming.

If there's hope of removing rape from the world, it needs to start with early education on the topics of consent and assault.

Check out this No Means No video to learn more about their boys program:

[Warpy]

1. I wonder if some of this is based on aboriginal cultures scattered over the planet

where rape is practically unknown. These "primitive" people have to be doing something very right. At some point, every male is going to realize he's strong enough to overpower an unwilling woman when he's in the throes of horniness. Some cultures teach them how and why to put the brakes on. I honestly think this is something that has to be taught.

Saying "boys will be boys" ensures the sort of appalling rape statistics we have in the US.

Boys need to know that they are capable of exercising control. Girls have to know they have the basic human right to determine what happens to their own bodies. That's not being done nation wide, probably because god.

[DetlefK]

2. Because small communities cannot afford a rapist.

He causes violence, he causes emotional distress, he causes loss of productivity, he causes loss of social bonding, he causes the birth of an unwanted child... In small societies, from a strictly rational, amoral and social point-of-view, the only sensible treatment for rapists is banishment or execution.

In big societies, the negative consequences the rape has on the community get more and more diminished: The level of violence, distress, and social problems becomes acceptable to the community, a background-noise.
And after a while, "background-noise" rape is the new normal.