Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Once again, we’d like to thank everyone who supported No To Rape during last year’s petition drive. Some of you are probably wondering what has happened since then. Unfortunately, more than six months have passed, and we have yet to receive any reply from the Prime Minister to our petition.
We are disappointed that there has been no response to the voices of more than 3,600 citizens and permanent residents, speaking up for the basic right of women to be protected from violence.
Nevertheless, No To Rape continues to work at a grassroots level to build community support for legislative change. If you are involved in social work, any community organisation including religious groups, or have experience of any kind – practical, academic or any other – that you would like to contribute to the prevention of sexual violence, please do not hesitate to get in touch. If you’re not sure what sort of experience you have, but simply wish to contribute in any way you can, let us know too. No To Rape is a civic movement composed entirely of volunteers, and any connections we can make will help.
Tags: Updates
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
By way of update, the No To Rape blog has been silent because the public petition drive has ended, but please be assured that we are continuing to work in other ways to push for the repeal of marital immunity for rape. Anyone who would like to be part of the team is more than welcome to get in touch.
For now, though, here is some wonderful news. You may remember that Her World ran an excellent article on marital rape last year, featuring interviews with women who had experienced marital rape and also the No To Rape campaign. One reader’s response to this article was published as a letter in the February issue of Her World. No To Rape wishes her friend the very best.
Sometimes life plays its own tune and forces us to dance on it. My closest friend is a victim of marital rape and when she was hospitalised after the traumatic episode; your issue came just in time.
I have no words to explain how much your article on Marital Rape helped her. We advised her that she should report this matter to the police but as usual she just turned a deaf ear. But, this article changed her perspective, so much so, that she called me instantly to ask if I could come with her to the police station. I am happy that she got an angel in Her World that changed her life remarkably.
I am short of words to explain the joy and sense of relief that I saw in her beautiful green eyes. Today, she gives credit of this grand success to your magazine. She recommends the magazine to everyone and loves it to the core. You guys, helped her sail through the tough and the harsh times.
Tags: Letters, Marital Rape, Media, Update
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Earlier today, the petition was submitted to the Prime Minister by email. A hard copy of the signatures – standing at 3,609 after we went through them to remove spam – was also sent through the post. Thank you to everyone again for your work to spread the message. We will keep you updated on any responses that we receive.
Tags: Petition, Updates
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
We would like to thank everyone who has given his or her support to the No To Rape petition to abolish marital rape immunity in Singapore. Twenty minutes ago, our petition has officially come to a close with over 3,600 signatures.
Over the next few days, we will be putting together the data collected before presenting it to our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, by email and in hard copy. We will keep everyone updated on the progress of the campaign, so please continue to follow us by either signing up to our mailing list, joining our Facebook group, following us on Twitter, or simply returning to this blog from time to time.
This website will also undergo an overhaul to pave the way for future awareness raising and related issues that we will be working hard to bring to you. Stay tuned!
Once again, thank you very much for supporting our call to repeal marital rape immunity in Singapore.
Tags: Petition, Updates
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
It is the final weekend for the No To Rape petition drive. Please take some time to remind friends and family to sign before the deadline on midnight 30 November. We know there are many more people who oppose sexual violence within marriage, and support giving everyone the full protection of the law. But we need your names on the petition to make sure the government knows it too.
Tags: Actions, Petition, Updates
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
The bloggers at Barnyard Chorus have shown No To Rape a lot of support, for which we are very grateful.
They have also put together some resources highlighting what sort of help you can and should seek if you have experienced sexual violence, whether from a spouse or anyone else. We recommend reading this even if you haven’t been assaulted, simply because (as blogger Badly Drawn Pig points out), it is not possible to predict sexual violence in advance:
In this Porkchop’s continued badly drawn efforts to bring you information you might need in case of emergency, I’m going to provide some porcine-weight, choi-ke-lei resources on seeking help in the event of rape or sexual assault, for all women and girls in Singapore.
Rape and sexual assault victims, I think, mostly don’t think or know that they’re going to be victimised like that. So it can happen to anyone.
A-N-Y-O-N-E!
Information about medical services and helplines follows. Do have a look.
Tags: Blogs, Rape
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Only the introduction is available online, but in the Straits Times today there is an article on domestic violence in Singapore. It emphasises that domestic violence affects people across all levels of education and income. According to the article, spousal abuse in which men hurt their wives in the privacy of their homes remains the most common form of family violence in Singapore.
The article also highlights the experiences of Ms Mary Tan, who for more than 30 years endured abuse at the hands of her husband, including frequent beatings and marital rape – once preceded by him forcing her to drink his urine.
Do get a copy of the Straits Times and read the full article if you have the chance.
Tags: Marital Rape, Media
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Monday, November 23rd, 2009
A letter by Associate Professor Chan Wing Cheong (who previously kindly spoke at the No To Rape seminar) has been published in the Straits Times Forum. It makes reference to the situation of wives under the age of 16:
The present law is inconsistent in that consensual sex with a girl under the age of 16 is a serious offence under the Penal Code, punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years and/or a fine, but it is not a criminal offence for a man to have sex with his wife who is at least 13 years old.
If we are concerned about the emotional and physical well-being of young girls engaging in sex, it cannot be right to allow men to have sex with their wives between the ages of 13 and 16, just because they are married to each other. The marriage will most likely have taken place with a foreigner overseas, where marriages with young brides are allowed.
Currently, Section 376A makes it an offence to have sex with any person under the age of 16, whether or not the minor expresses consent. Associate Professor Chan’s letter appears to question the retention of two separate exempions:
(1) Section 376A(4), which grants immunity from this offence when a girl under the age of 16 says “yes” to sex with her husband.
(2) Section 376A(5), which grants immunity from this offence, even in situations where a 13-, 14- or 15-year-old girl has said “no” to her husband.
The current No To Rape petition calls for the complete removal of Section 376A(5). (This is in no way an endorsement of Section 376A(4), which may also require further review.) If you believe that a man should not be able to force an unwilling 13-, 14- or 15-year old wife to have sex, please sign it today, and help to spread the word.
Tags: Legal, Marital Rape, Media, Well-Known Supporters
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Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Many thanks to Channel News Asia for their mention of No To Rape in their report on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Other events covered include H.O.M.E.’s Singapore Court of Women and AWARE’s White Ribbon Campaign.
Tags: Events, Media
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Monday, November 23rd, 2009
A FIRST HAND WITNESS OF MARITAL RAPE. A 5 YEAR OLD CAN REMEMBER THINGS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.
- Recent message left on our Petition
This week, on 25 November, people around the world will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
No To Rape is also entering its final week, with over 3,100 signatures on our petition to date. This is a great show of support for ending sexual violence against women in Singapore.
But as the deadline of 30 November draws near, it is more important than ever to get the word out. This week is the final window of opportunity for you and your friends and family to sign the petition.
Word of mouth, email, Facebook, Twitter, blogs – every message, and every signature, will help.
Thank you taking action to combat violence against women.
Tags: Petition, Supporters, Update
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