RAPE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS

                 DO YOU KNOW?

1). Rape is an act of
violence, not sexual
passion. It is an attempt
to hurt and humiliate,
using sex as the weapon.

2). Most women are raped by
strangers in high-risk
situations - hitchhiking,
walking alone at night,
going alone to a bar, etc.
That's False . Rapes can happen
in these situations, but
approximately few of all
victims are attacked in
their homes and in over
half the reported rapes,
women knows their
attackers.

3). Victims do not
cause rape. It can happen
to anyone - children,
Parents, students,
working women, mothers,
wives, the rich, the
poor and also the disabled people. In fact, police
believe that in the
stranger-rape situation,
rapists tend to prey on
women who look
frightened, easily
intimidated, or seem to be
daydreaming. Most people are raped for being at the wrong place at the wrong time

4). The majority of rapists
continue until caught.
True. And rape is one of
the most under-reported
crimes.

 LESS THE RISK OF BECOMING
A RAPE VICTIM AT HOME

1). Make sure all windows
and doors in your home
can be locked securely,
particularly sliding glass
doors. Use the locks.
Keep entrances well-
lighted.

2). Install  peepholes on the
doors and use them.
Check the identification of
any stranger, sales or service
person before letting him
in.

3). Don't let stranger's into
your home when you're
alone - no matter the
reason or how dire the
emergency is maybe. Offer to call for an
emergency
while they wait outside.

4). Never give the impression
that you are at home alone
if strangers calls your phone or
come to the door.

5). If you live alone, use only
your last name and initials
on mail boxes and phone
directories.

6). Get yourself a trusted
neighbor - someone you
can turn to if you're
worried.

7). If you live in an apartment,
avoid being in the laundry
room or garage by
yourself, especially at
night.

8). If you come home alone
and find a door or window
open or signs of forced
entry, don't go in. Call the nearest
the police station for a proper check.

WHEN WALKING

1). Be alert to your
surroundings and the
people around you.
Stay in well-lighted areas
as much as possible.

2). Walk confidently at a
steady pace on the side
of the street facing traffic.

3). Walk close to the curb.
Avoid doorways, bushes,
and alleys especially at night.

4). Wear clothes and shoes
that give you freedom of
movement, and always walk smart.

5). Don't walk alone at night
and always avoid dark areas and areas
where there are few
people.

6). Be careful when people
stop you for directions.

7). Always reply from a
distance, and never get
too close to the car.

8). If you are in trouble,
attract help any way you
can. Scream, shout for help,
or yell "Fire!"

9). If you feel you're being
followed, walk into a store
or knock on a house door.

WHILE DRIVING

1). Keep your car in good
working order and the gas
tank at least half full.

2). Park in well-lighted environment
and lock the doors, even
if you'll only be gone a
short time.

3). When you return to your
car, have the key ready
and check the front and
rear seats and floor before
getting in.

4).If you have a flat tire, drive
on it until you reach a
safe well-lighted, and
well-traveled area.

5). If your car breaks down,
put the hood up, lock the
doors, and put on the
flashers. Use flares if you
have them and tie a white
cloth to the antenna. If
someone stops to help,
don't get out of the car,
but roll down the window
slightly and ask the
person to call the police
or a towing van for you.

6). If you see another
motorist in trouble, don't
stop. Help by calling the
police for assistance.

7). Exercise extra caution
when using underground
and enclosed parking
garages. Try not to go
alone.

8). If you are being followed,
don't drive home. Go to
the nearest police or fire
station and honk your
horn. Or drive to an open area with population of people and call for help.

IF YOU'RE ATTACKED

1). Keep your head. Stay as
calm as possible, think
rationally, and evaluate
your resources and
options.

2). It may be more advisable
to submit than to resist
and risk severe injury or
death. You will have to
make this decision based
on the circumstances.But, don't resist if the attacker has a weapon.

3). Keep assessing the
situation as it is
happening. If one strategy
doesn't work, try another.
Possible options in
addition to nonresistance
are negotiating, stalling
for time, distracting the
assailant and fleeing to a
safe place, verbal
assertiveness, screaming
to attract attention, and
physical resistance.

4). You may be able to turn
the attacker off with
bizarre behavior such as
throwing up, acting crazy,
or picking your nose.

AFTER AN ASSAULT OR RAPE

1). Go to a safe place and
call the police. The
sooner you make the
report, the greater the
chances the attacker will
be caught.

2). Do not shower, bathe,
douche, or destroy any of
the clothing you were
wearing at the time of the
assault. Do not disturb
anything in the area where
the assault occurred. It is
important to preserve all
physical evidence for court
use.

3). Go to a hospital
emergency room for
medical care. Ask the doctor to make
a note of all injuries
received as a result of the
rape. Make sure you are
evaluated for the risks of
pregnancy and venereal
disease.

4). Call someone to be with
you. You should not be
alone. Contact a rape
treatment or crisis center
to help you deal with the
consequences of the
assault.

5). Write down a description
of the assault's
circumstances and the
attacker. Police need all
the information they can
get about the assailant.

TAKE ACTION - TODAY

1). Learn how to be at alert and
observant. You can avoid
many threatening
situations, and if you are
attacked, you will be able
to accurately describe the
assailant to the police.

2). See if your community has
a rape crisis center. Read
their information and carry
the telephone number with
you. Volunteer to help.

3). Check if your school or
Police Department has a
child sexual abuse
prevention program. If not,
help them start one.

4). If someone in your neighborhood has been attacked,
be a good neighbor. Lend
an ear and lead them to
others who can help.

................ THANKS................