New innovative and interactive online tool launched today will help raise awareness about rape as a violation of human rights and challenge pervasive stereotypes in society, said Amnesty International on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Drawn directly from a real-life case, “Violence Against Women: Consent” – an educational toolkit – is based on a landmark ruling of the European Court of Human Rights about a woman survivor of rape that was denied protection and access to justice.
“Learners navigate their way through several shocking obstacles rape survivors encounter in their fight for justice, such as victim blaming, prejudices and flawed investigations that focus on the perceived lack of resistance of the victim rather than the absence of consent”, said Stasya Denisova, Human Rights Education Coordinator in Europe and Central Asia
“Learning can be fun, even when learning about human rights violations. This user-friendly tool that will help to increase knowledge about sexual violence and rape as a serious violation of human rights and engage more people, including young people in the campaign against rape.”
The module takes about 15 minutes to complete. Learners can consult with a legal expert via chat-bot to learn more about the importance of sexual consent and rape as a human rights violation.
Shockingly, only nine countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) recognise that sex without consent is rape. Focus on resistance and violence rather than on consent has an impact not only on the reporting of rape but also on wider awareness of sexual violence, both of which are key aspects in preventing rape and tackling impunity.
“This module helps learners to get away from common perceptions of rape where a woman will cry out for help, fight back and scream. The reality is that rape does not always look like this. Survivors of sexual assault often freeze, they may lose the ability to resist or to understand what is happening to them”, said women’s rights defender and the creator of the powerful illustrations for the module, Tatiana Zelenskaya.
“Education on human rights and consent is crucial to ensure that women are better protected from rape and girls will not have to grow up questioning whether rape is their fault or doubt that the perpetrators will be prosecuted.”
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Lucy Scholey, Media Relations Officer, Amnesty International Canada (English branch), 613-853-2142, lscholey@amnesty.ca
Background
The module “Violence Against Women: Consent” is based on the case of E.B. v Romania at the European Court of Human Rights. The court ruled that Romania failed to effectively investigate and prosecute a rape complaint and violated the right to be free from torture and other ill-treatment and the right to private life.
It is currently available in both English and Russian.
The module is the third in a series which also includes modules on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
