#IAmNotAfraidOfActing public march against culture of raping to be held in Ukrainian cities

A public march against the culture of raping and for supporting women affected by violence will be held in several Ukrainian cities on September 17.

This was posted on the campaign’s page on Facebook.

The campaign was initiated by NGOs “FemSolution”, “Insight” and “ROR Kyiv.”

“We criticize the culture, where a victim is accused of a crime, and rappers are justified by appearance or behavior of a woman,” the organizers say.

The purpose of the campaign is to make a women’s voice in the public space more noticeable; it is a statement of solidarity and support for women affected by violence; it is objection against the fact that a woman should be ashamed of the violence caused to her

The problem of violence passes over in silence and is considered to be a woman’s “private matter”, and expressions of violence are defined as isolated cases. But #IAmNotAfraidOfSaying campaign in Ukrainian social networks showed the extent of the problem in the society. The organizers remind that the culture of raping is aimed at women and every woman is affected by violence, in any form: jeering, ignoring the “no” answer (our reluctance to have sex), jokes / suggestions of a sexual nature, feeling up, rape, etc.

The activists will demand the creation of conditions for compliance with the Istanbul Convention, namely:

– formation of an independent commission to prevent domestic and gender-based violence;

– its collaboration with women’s non-governmental organizations / initiative groups;

– creation of women’s refuge and rehabilitation centers for people affected by gender-based /domestic violence;

– support and creation of new and free “hotlines” for qualified and confidential help for people affected by gender-based /domestic violence.