That’s the question we put to Singaporeans and residents from a wide range of backgrounds and walks of life, and the latest No To Rape film ad, “Let’s Get Heard”, is the result.

You might recognise some familiar faces among those saying ‘no’ to everything from bad breath to censorship and more!

Share the video with your family and friends to encourage them to take a stand. There’s one more thing we can all say no to, and that’s rape.

As our petition drive enters its last month, it becomes more vital than ever that we all get heard. Please help spread the word.

Credits
Music: YACHT – “Ring the Bell.” (See here)

Special thanks to David Shiyang Liu, Rae Lyn Lee, Pei Ling, Joanne LRM, and everyone who participated in the film. Views expressed in the video are those of participants and do not necessarily reflect those of No To Rape.

No To Rape is pleased to announce that our third film ad will be launched on 31 October, at ‘whose Right is it anyway?’, a human rights workshop for youth.

The United Nations Youth Association of Singapore (UNYAS) and our kind organisational endorsers MARUAH (Singapore working group for a human rights mechanism) will be holding a full-day workshop for those who are young and interested in finding out what human rights are about.

Date: 31 October
Time: 09 00 h
Venue: Singapore Management University School of Business Seminar room 2.5

For more details and to register, visit their website.

No To Rape is very grateful to MARUAH and UNYAS for allowing us to screen our film ad at their event. Those of you who can’t make it will be able to catch it here on the No To Rape blog, of course: watch this space for updates.

Credits
Supported by:
Camera and Lighting Equipment: Cinegear
Bridal gown supplied by: La Belle Couture
Lighting supplied by Lightcraft

Thanks to Masano and family, Kath, The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Auntie Majorie, Uncle Paul Lo and family, Auntie Lisa, Leonard, Snakeweed.

The first No To Rape film ad, “It is time we speak up”, was released thanks to the generosity of writer/director David Shiyang Liu and has attracted more than 1,900 views on YouTube since 10 August.

Please share this video with your friends and family!

Segment 1 of 3:

Segment 2 of 3:

Segment 3 of 3:

Associate Professor Chan Wing Cheong of NUS Law Faculty responds to the question of whether falsely alleging marital rape would provide an advantage to women in divorce proceedings, saying “Generally, those kinds of allegations will not give any person advantage.”

Associate Professor Chan also addresses the claim that non-consent can only be adequately signalled by moving out and applying for one of the relevant legal orders cited in the exceptions to marital immunity for rape, saying: “Husbands should be given greater credit.”

Determinations of non-consent for the offence of sexual penetration under Section 376 are made on a case-by-case basis on the strength of the available evidence, without requiring any prior legal steps by the complainant. Why then should we accept a blanket rejection of all this evidence in cases of marital rape? Moreover, any rape is by definition carried out at close quarters. It should not be difficult to speak to someone who is right in front of you. If a husband has any reason at all to doubt that his wife is consenting to the act, for example because of her facial expression, it takes no more than half a second to verbally check.

Braema Mathi of MARUAH also shares a troubling anecdote about a woman who had been subject to physical abuse – an account including the very distressing detail that her vagina had been cut by her husband. She talks about the importance of having supportive people around to help an abused spouse come forward.

Associate Professor Chan Wing Cheong of the NUS Law Faculty responds to a question on the difficulties of proving non-consent in the marital rape scenario:

Former NMP Siew Kum Hong responds to an audience member expressing concerns about the preservation of marriages:

Similarly, Benny Bong, President of the Society Against Family Violence, opines on the question of whether removing marital immunity for rape will weaken family bonds:

Watch this space for more!

Benny Bong, President of the Society of Family Violence, talks about some of the troubling aspects of marital rape cases, including how a lack of societal condemnation is like a second victimisation:

Associate Professor Chan Wing Cheong of the NUS Law Faculty responds to a question about whether “vengeful wives” have been known to make abusive allegations of marital rape in those countries which make no distinction between marital rape and stranger rape:

A member of the audience comments on cases where women know their husbands are cheating on them, but nevertheless believe they are obliged to have sex despite the possible ramifications for their own health (e.g. sexually transmitted infections):

More short clips to come – watch this space!