Police Rape Protest

People will be gathering from 5:30pm outside the central Wellington Police Station in protest against the alleged rape cases perpetrated by police that have been highlighted by the media recently.

“This is a chance for women to express their rage about the police perpetrating rape, and then covering it up,” says organiser Sarah Helm. “It is a chance to show that we will not be intimidated by the police force”

“We hope that the Inquiry is genuinely independent, and takes as wide an interpretation of their brief as possible. They should be examining police culture, and an independent police complaints procedure,” says Ms Helm.

The protest also draws attention to the plight of the Sri Lankan sexual abuse survivor whose application for refugee status was turned down by the Government.

“We are angered by a process which does not accord sexual abuse as a serious violation of human rights, and disgusted by a government that will not take steps to protect a child,” says Ms Helm.

“We demand an end to state rape.”

The protest has been organised by a collection of women concerned by recent reports, and has gained support from Wellington’s activist community, and Wellington Independent Rape Crisis. Both women and men will be on the protest, with women taking a leadership role.

The protest is a ‘noise barrage’ and will aim to disrupt the police in a peaceful manner. Protestors will have pots, pans, whistles and other instruments to create noise.

“They have silenced the Sri Lankan girl, and the rape survivors, but they will not silence us”

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