Rape map, murdered women: South Africa’s republic of sexual abuse

With its own currency, passports and a blood-stained map, the Republic of Sexual Abuse is a creation of a group of campaigners in South Africa.

The country has one of the highest cases of murders of women in the world: one every three hours.

According to WHO, about 3000 women in South Africa were murdered in 2018, more than fives times higher than the global average.

The number of recorded murders of women went up 11 percent between 2017 and 2018.

This week, a campaign run together with women’s rights group People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) exhibited a huge red map painted in fake blood with all the excuses men use to rape women – including “I was drunk”.

It depicts a country situated in the centre of an exhibition in Johannesburg mall and sought to raise awareness against femicide in South Africa.

According to Reuters, the exhibition was established by Roanna Williams,a n  executive creative director of the advertising agency Black River FC.

“Most women in South Africa have a story of sexual abuse, we are not just trying to shock, we are showing that this is everyone’s problem and we all need to act, not just during 16 Days of Activism, but 365 days of the year,” said Williams at the exhibition, which opened on November 26.

However, recent murders rapes and kidnapping of South African women filled the air in September where women called for justice for rape survivors.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced a five-point plan to tackle violence against women.

Some men visiting the exhibition get defensive, said Clayton Swartz, Black River FC’s art director, but many leave taking pamphlets and asking how they can help.