Women’s Self Defence Network - Wāhine Toa urges action re ‘Roast Busters’

We are appalled at what has reportedly happened to the girls and young women who have been the victims of the ‘Roast Busters’ group.

We urge the police to hold the young men responsible to account for their actions, which certainly appear to constitute serial and premeditated rape.

The Women’s Self Defence Network - Wāhine Toa is one of several groups in Aotearoa New Zealand working towards a society free of sexual abuse and violence. It has been heartening to see the widespread community abhorrence both of the actions of these young men, and also of some earlier responses that reeked of victim-blaming. Community support for victims and non-tolerance of rape and sexual predation are essential if we are to reduce the incidence and impact of sexual violence in our communities.

The Women’s Self Defence Network - Wāhine Toa, through the Girls’ Self Defence Project, teaches self defence to almost 10,000 girls throughout New Zealand each year. The primary age group for our work is with girls aged 11 – 13. We teach these girls skills, attitudes and strategies to keep safe from sexual violence. We also stress that victims of rape are not responsible for being raped. The people responsible for rape are the rapists, not the victims. We also teach these girls the importance of telling a safe adult if anything bad has happened to them, as it is the responsibility of adults to help keep children and young people safe.

We encourage any girls and young women who have been victims of rape to not stay silent, to seek support and, if at all possible, to lodge complaints with the police.

We also encourage the government to re-open the Law Commission's review of pre-trial and trial processes for sexual assault victims, and to look at ways the police and justice systems can better protect and support young people.

Women's Self Defence Network Wahine Toa (Inc)
www.wsdn.org.nz

ENDS

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