To commemorate International Women?s Day on 11th March, SOS Femmes organised a workshop on rape and sexual violence against women and girl children. The aim was to bring women ? from all social classes, regions (urban and rural), professions (legal, educational and university) and age groups ? to reflect and debate on sexual coercion which women and girls throughout the world endure.

Some 60 women were present. According to them, the workshop was an instructive experience which gave them the opportunity to share their views and voice out their personal standpoint on sexual violence, rape and incest. The participants made 11 proposals to be submitted to the government: (1) revision of the legal definition of rape to include all forms of penetration as in France; (2) medical and psychological follow-up of all victims/survivors of sexual violence; (3) rape crisis centres in hospitals; (4) their opening on a 24-hour basis; (5) qualified personnel; (6) their administration according to a well-defined and women-friendly protocol, (7) penalisation of marital rape, (8) more severe sentences for gang rape, (9) penalisation of custodial rape as in India, (10) a national information and awareness raising campaign on sexual violence and (11) compulsory comprehensive sexual education in schools.

Usually, conferences on social issues are unilateral, with one or more speakers, a passive audience and propositions generally made by the same leading parties. But, to innovate, SOS Femmes adopted a participative approach encouraging all women present to express their views. SOS Femmes thus gave a voice to voiceless women. The participants were active collaborators. The groups of eight to nine women each answered a questionnaire on: gang rape, custodial rape, marital rape, incest, rape in war as a weapon for ethnic cleansing, laws on sexual violence in other countries. After presentation by each group, the participants could freely debate on the issues in the questionnaire and subjects related to them. They came to the conclusion that the above-mentioned proposals need urgent attention and implementation.

By giving this opportunity to women, SOS Femmes practised the precept of democracy which stipulates that all women, whatever their ethnic affiliation, religious practice, social status and demographic standing, are free to express themselves, their point of view being important and valuable.

It is very positive to give the floor to anonymous women who wish to participate in the campaign against sexual violence. Their contribution and testimony are as valuable as that of other women and they are better placed to talk about their daily experience of male oppression.

Often, they are the direct witnesses of sexual violence which other women endure; experience that often goes unreported for social, economic, cultural, religious and psychological reasons such as fear, stigma and stereotypes attached to such violence, the negative aftermaths which may result if victims/survivors speak and the emotional turmoil in which victims/survivors are trapped.

Non-victims of sexual violence comfort themselves with the preconceived idea that it is easy to break the silence (especially in domestic violence) but when you are trapped in the utter confusion which victims/survivors experience, then you realise that it is not as easy. Most people have a misconception of violence against women and tend to make stereotypical judgments.

If we took the time to listen to what those women have to share, it would be a great step forward not only in the campaign against sexual violence, but also in the campaigns for gender equity, women?s human rights, the empowerment of women and against gender-based violence. It is by mobilising all women throughout the world that women can expect to bring change and improvement in our social and economic conditions and status. Furthermore, such initiatives would be in line with our democratic principles.

<B>Sophie LE CHARTIER

Anthropologist</B>