| | | I am one of the nine million European women who have been raped. Many of us have considered suicide. A historic law could finally address rape across the EU, so why are France and Germany weakening it behind the scenes? Let's gather hundreds of thousands of voices to unveil this sabotage and make rapists face their crimes. Sign and share: | | | | | Dear friends and allies, | | I am one of the nine million European women who have been raped at least once. We often keep this heavy secret buried. Many of us have considered suicide.
Often we can't confide in our family and friends, much less reach out to the authorities, because society makes us feel that we're responsible. Our guilt adds to the trauma of the attack.
However, here's our message for survivors: it's not our fault. Sex without consent is rape.
Today, the European Parliament and the Commission want to enshrine this fundamental principle in law. It would change everything: victims would be heard; society would have more justice. But France and Germany are shamefully standing in the way.
Let's publicly call out their false excuses before the Council debate on 14 November. Together, let's press for justice that allows victims to rebuild their lives and challenge French and German decision-makers: | | | | | There is not a single country in the EU where we are free from sexual violence.
A quarter of European people think that our clothes can justify violence. Or that if we didn't struggle, it wasn't rape. This devastating system of thought has destroyed entire generations.
It doesn't have to be that way. We have a chance to change the paradigm, and move from a culture of rape to a culture of consent. A consent-based definition of rape, applicable across the entire European Union is a vital step, and will help protect and heal us all – women, children, and men.
Let's make it happen – join the call and Avaaz will deliver it to the key blocking countries: | | | | Violence against women and girls has no borders. Yet depending on where they are in Europe, victims of rape are not treated equally. In the collective imagination, and in the law of half of European countries, rape is not defined by the absence of consent but only by the use of force. When they dare to speak, victims are systematically called upon to prove that they struggled enough. Let us all stand together to end this terrible double punishment and guarantee all survivors the right to heal and get the support they need.
With hope and determination,
Mélanie, with Antonia, Huiting, Nate and the whole Avaaz team
PS: In this campaign, we have chosen to use the generic feminine because 90% of victims are women, but this law will also benefit children and male victims. | | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment