What is rape?

Rape is sexual assault by a male in which the penis of the assailant is introduced into the vagina or anus of a non consenting victim of any age by threat or force.

What is date rape?

This is rape committed when the assailant and the victim are known to each other usually on a date or outing.

What is statutory rape?

It is sexual intercourse with a girl below 16 years even with her consent. This is because children below 16 years are unable to make a legal judgement.

Besides rape, what are other sex related crimes or misbehaviour?

It includes :

Sexual harassment :

• It is the unwanted verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature
• It interferes with a person’s school or working performance
• Creates an intimidating or hostile environment
• It can be as subtle as a look or as obvious as assault
• Repeated, unwanted request for dates
• Sexually orientated jokes or remarks
• Patting, touching or other unwelcomed body contact
• Inappropriate remarks about one’s body, clothing, sexual orientation or behaviour
• Physical intimidation or assault

Sexual assault :

• Any contact with the genitalia of non-consenting victims of any age by assailant.

What should you do if you have been raped?

Main things to remember are :

• Go to a safe place and confide with someone you trust
• Do not blame yourself as it is not your fault
• Go for a medical check-up
• Get professional help to deal with your feelings

What shouldn’t you do after you have been raped?

Immediate examination by a doctor is important to obtain good evidence against the offender.

• Don’t wait more than 48 hours before going to the doctor/police
• Don’t take a shower before examination of the doctor
• Don’t change clothes
• Don’t brush your teeth

In addition

• Don’t eat or drink anything (in case you have been drugged)
• Don’t go alone. Find a supportive person to go with you

Why is it important to get a medical examination?

• Medical help is important to look out for internal injuries, infection and unwanted pregnancies.
• Medical evidence is also necessary if you want to prosecute the rapist.
• Some people who think they don’t want to prosecute change their mind later.

What happens during the medical examination?

• A trained counselor or social worker will talk and listen to you.
• A medical professional will test you for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s). These may involve taking blood, saliva or vaginal secretion. Samples of the rapist hair, skin, nails or bodily fluids from your clothes and body will be searched for.
• You will be examined and checked for any injuries.
• Your urine or blood will also be tested if there is suspicion you have been drugged.

What kind of treatment would you need?

• If you are not on any contraception, you have to consider taking pregnancy prevention therapy. It consists of taking hormonal pills immediately and 2 more pills 12 hours later.
• This treatment reduces the rate of pregnancy by 60% to 90% depending on how soon you get medical assistance. It might make you feel nauseous and have breast tenderness.
• The risk of STIs during a rape is 5% to 10%. Your doctor can prescribe medicine for some for these STIs. You might need Hepatitis B vaccine if you have not previously been vaccinated.
• Your chance of getting HIV from rape is less than 1%.
• You can however take two antiviral drugs for four weeks for prevention.

Is it your fault?

You are not at fault. No one has the right to force you to have sex with him. Sometimes, the rapist will try to make you feel guilty by saying “you asked for it” or “you wanted it”.

The truth is that whatever you wear, whatever you say, or however you act is never a justification for rape.

Make protecting yourself the priority; don’t worry about protecting your rapist even if you know him.

You might feel a lot of things: shame, intense fear, anger, degradation or confusion. You may have physical symptoms like headache, trouble eating, concentrating or sleeping.

Most rape victims don’t want to talk about it as they are worried it will bring back bad memories. Talking about rape in a safe environment with the help and support of a professional is the best way to ensure long term healing.

Every rape victims works thorough their feelings differently. If you have been raped there are many places to get help. It is better to get help as early as possible, so you can heal faster and better.

What happens to the offender?

It is covered by Penal Code Sections 375 and 376 in which the sentence is minimum 5 years jail and a maximum 20 years jail and whipping.

What are the support groups available in Malaysia?

• Woman’s Aid Organisation. Email : wao@po.jaring.my.
• Women’s Centre for Change, (WCC) Penang. Email: wcc@wccpenang.org.
• All Women’s Action Society (AWAM). Email : awam@po.jaring.my.
• Sisters in Islam. Email : sistersinislam@pd.jaring.my.