In 2006 I was sexually assaulted. I never expected to blog about it.
One evening in DC, a stranger grabbed me as I walked from the metro stop to my apartment after work. I wish I could say I screamed or fought back, but I was too horrified. Instead I could only stare in disbelief at the jackass holding me down. This can’t be happening. In a desperate scramble I somehow managed to break away before it escalated to rape and ran inside my building. He winked and blew a kiss from behind the glass door, as if to say ‘oh well, next time‘. I was the third women in the neighborhood to report a similar story to police in two weeks–also the luckiest. The experience forever shattered a false sense of security, knowing that to monsters like this man, I’m nothing more than conquest, having no identity beyond what I can potentially provide for them. The reward isn’t about sex–but subjugation and power. And I will not be a silent witness to rape.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young women half a world away.Why? Because they are our sisters and children–the victims of sexual abuse who don’t have the means to ask for help. We have power in our words and influence. Along with our audience, we’re able to speak for them. I’m asking all of you–bloggers, writers, teachers, and concerned citizens–to use whatever platform you have to call for an end to the rape and abuse of women and girls in Liberia and around the world.
In regions where fighting has formally ended, rape continues to be used as a weapon. As Nicholas Kristof recently wrote from West Africa, ‘it has been easier to get men to relinquish their guns than their sense of sexual entitlement.’ The war has shattered norms, training some men to think that ‘when they want sex, they need simply to overpower a girl.’ An International Rescue Committee survey suggests 12 percent of girls aged 17 and under acknowledged having been sexually abused in some way over the previous 18 months. Further, of the 275 new sexual violence cases treated Jan-April by Doctors Without Borders, 28 percent involve children aged 4 or younger, and 33 percent involve children aged 5 through 12. That’s 61% age 12 or under. We read about their plight and see the figures, but it’s so easy to feel helpless to act in isolation. But these are not statistics, they are girls. Together we can do more. Mass rape persists because of inertia so let’s create momentum.
The movement began a couple weeks ago after I was feeling particularly outraged after reading Kristof’s terrific NYTimes piece. I wondered aloud to Isis how we might draw attention to the mass rape taking place across the globe. Very soon we began coordinating a blogospheric awareness campaign to say 1) this is happening 2) it’s completely monstrous, and 3) we want change. But acknowledgment isn’t enough–people have to be motivated to care and act. We want folks thinking about these girls beyond a single morning they read a few coordinated posts.
Silence Is The Enemy was born–so named because we will not be. All through June, I’ll continue posting information, details, benchmarks, and let everyone know about progress made, new initiatives, and stories from the region. I encourage others to do so as possible. The Intersection, On Becoming A Laboratory And Domestic Goddess, Aetiology, Bioephemera, Neurotopia, The Questionable Authority, DrugMonkey, Adventure In Ethics And Science, and Sciencewomen will be donating all revenue this month to Doctors Without Borders. The goal is two-fold: Raising funds and–arguably more importantly–awareness. Since blogging revenue increases with traffic, we hope to get people to keep coming back for more information about what’s going on and thinking about how to make a difference. Do not feel obligated to donate, but it’s one idea. There are many ways to contribute: Write and email Members of Congress (Congressional Directory here), speak at community meetings, encourage others to get involved, or donate to our chosen charity (Doctors Without Borders). Help us maximize our donations by visiting Isis, Jessica, Tara, Neurotopia, Mike, DrugMonkey, Janet, Sciencewomen and returning here often because every click will help raise money. Spread the word. We want to make sure elected officials at multiple levels realize this is a global issue that matters to a large voting constituency!
Aside from inaugural posts around the blogosphere, I will keep a growing coalition list linked on the sidebar (as soon as WordPress cooperates) to every blog involved, ways to contribute, helpful urls, examples of letters to Congress, and more. We encourage readers and bloggers to join us, publicize, and speak out in a growing collective voice for those who cannot. Already many science bloggers, social justice groups, writers, and others have agreed take up the call. If you compose a post, make sure to email me at srkirshenbaum@yahoo.com with the link so I can add your blog to our growing membership. Everyone is encouraged to get involved and dream up creative ways to participate.
Will you join us?
Update 1: The incredible Arikia Millikan of The Millikan Daily has volunteered to create a central hub for posts, news, progress, and more! Will post the site when it’s live…
Update 2: Join The Facebook group
Update 3: Check out all the new blogs now included above that will join us in donating June’s revenue to Doctors Without Borders!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:17 am
So sorry to hear about your experience. It’s gratifying to know that there are big hearted persons in our world today.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:43 am
Thanks for leading the charge on this critical issue and for providing a platform for everyone who wants to help. Count me in.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:49 am
Terrific! I’ve added Science Cheerleader to our blogger coalition and will have the list on our sidebar as soon as possible.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Sadly, rape seems to be deeply ingrained in many cultures. So much so that we see hideous practices like breast ironing to “protect” girls from rape. Not to mention girls as young as twelve being given in marriage to adult males, which becomes legally sanctioned rape.
http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2007/05/activists_seek_.html
http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2008/01/marrying-too-yo.html
June 1st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Hi -
I’ve started a Silence is the enemy facebook group, hopefully it will get the traffic up on all the donating blogs. I’ve copied over part of this letter (with link) – please tell me if you would rather I didn’t.
Is the Coalition all the blogs which are donating? Or just those that express their support? I’ve linked to all those you’ve mentioned.
Please keep me updated (email or here) so I can keep the group current.
If you want moderation status or even full control of the group, I’d be more than happy.
Take care,
Christine
June 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
[...] check out the Silence Is The Enemy [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Done. Thank you for getting this going. Have already blogged and will help spread the word. This is an international issue and I hope more bloggers world-wide take part.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I just invited a zillion people to join that facebook group (thanks for setting it up) and judging by the comments here and on my site, so far, people are getting interested.
Still waiting for some of these other blogers to come up with their posts!!! Let’s get going, folks!
June 1st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
[...] She bravely admits about her own near-rape experience, and has decided to take action, creating Silence is the Enemy, an effort to raise awareness about this appalling situation. She and other bloggers are also [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
As a survivor of a brutal rape attack when I was just 19 that left me physically and emotionally scarred and cut short what looked to be a promising career just as I had gained promotion to my dream job. I can only applaud this initiative and add my voice till the silence is broken
June 1st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I have just posted a blog on this issue and linked back to your blog
June 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Good for you, Sheril (and Chris), for speaking out on an essential subject and for taking a lead.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about this. A very good friend of mine was assaulted on the street years ago and she always talked about it in low tones, and preferred not to talk about it at all. Something like this can affect you for a long time. Whatever you can do to address this problem is well worth the effort.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I’m glad you were able to avoid rape.
@Romeo Is there a human culture that doesn’t have a deep running stripe of rape? If we spent half the resources we spend on pot on rape this country would be a lot better place.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
[...] at the Intersection has put up a brave post, using her own experience with sexual assault to bring attention to the plight of victims of sexual [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Bravo. But I would not call it silence. It’s noise. Desperate, silent, deafening noise.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I have put this article out on my twitter feed, joined the facebook group, and will try to spread the word. I have a daughter. I want her to grow up in a world where girls need no longer be afraid, or used, or abused. Thank you for starting this.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[...] Read the Blog: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/01/silence-is-the-enemy/ [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm
[...] Posted by Rystefn on June 1, 2009 I know sometimes I write about horrible things, but today there’s a difference: the horrible thing in question is really happening. Sometimes it’s easy for us to forget, but we live in a world full of horrors to which most of us turn a blind eye. We close our eyes and pretend it isn’t happening in the hopes that it will go away… or at least that we won’t have to think about it. By doing this, we give the perpetrators of such crimes the power to continue. There are brave people in this world, though, who refuse to be silent. Who stand up and make noise, and donate money to helping the victims. There are those who question how much good raising awareness can do, and they make some valid points, but the simple fact is this – so long as people remain unaware, evil people can keep committing these atrocities. Silence is the Enemy [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
It won’t reach many, I think, but I’ve added my voice over at my little blog as well.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Tremendous thanks to all who have contributed so far and added their words, actions, and motivation to the effort. This is only the beginning.
I’ve been updating our coalition list and will continue as new posts come in.
Momentum is building…
June 1st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for taking the lead on this Sheril!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Apparently it isn’t allowed, but I’d like to try one more time.
In a democracy, that is if the US is one, as civilians you can exert pressure on your government.
The Obama government chose to cover up the crimes of the former administration among which rape ( gang rape of a 15 year old girl followed up by her suicide and the sodomizing children, one being only 11 years old, by US personel. They were legally covered by big shot government laywers the likes of John Yoo who’s legal opinions included that crushing the testicles of innocent children is OK if the president says so, all did and continue to do so with total immunity from prosecution under US or International Law. Sure a few small time shitheads were sacrificed for the camera’s, but in the grand scheme of things that doesn’t even register.
Please, if you do not know what happened (and still does) or agree with the “don’t look back” policy of the Obama administration, empty your stomache and inform yourself, because as long as these warcriminals are outside jail any moral indignation coming from the US is merely seen as hypocrisy or blowing smoke to hide ulterior motives.
And rightly so.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Thank you for including me on the list, Sheril.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:56 pm
[...] with Isis the Scientist, Aetiology, Bioephemera, Neurotopia and The Questionable Authority, has launched a project, inspired by a Nick Kristof column, to bring attention and pressure to bear to try to end the [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Thank you for starting this. I’ve joined the facebook group and shared the post over Twitter. My blog doesn’t get a lot of traffic but I’ll have a post up soon.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
[...] is the Enemy” campaign. Read Nicholas Kristof’s NYTimes piece that inspired Sheril Kirstenbaum’s post on Discover Blogs starting the campaign. Join the Facebook group. And go read about science on Scienceblogs where [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 3:51 pm
[...] is the enemy… fucking pissed, political activism, sad | From Sheril Kirshenbaum: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pm
[...] of women and young girls, particularly in Liberia. It is being organized by Sheril Kirshenbaum at The Intersection. She will have updates throughout the month, and has a list of actions we can take to raise [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
[...] Silence Is The Enemy – by Sheril Kirshenbaum – In 2006 I was sexually assaulted. I never expected to blog about it. [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Bravo, Sheril. Did you know about a similar campaign against sexual assault and harassment in India?? In 2003, the Blank Noise campaign was started in India. It is a public and participatory arts project that seeks to explore street dynamics and recognize ‘eve teasing’ as street sexual harassment or violence.
http://blog.blanknoise.org/
June 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Your collective initiative is wonderful and inspiring, and hopefully will grow powerful to help combat sexual abuse globally.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I just noticed that Mr. Kristof of The New York Times picked up your post..
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/silence-is-the-enemy/
June 1st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Thank you for your work on this matter and for generating awareness, Sheril. I’ve written a blog entry regarding this post and placed a link on my sidebar, as well as joining your Facebook group.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
[...] no senado norte-americano acerca do mesmo tema. Por fim, ainda no Jugular, a iniciativa “O Silêncio é o Inimigo“, já amplamente subscrita, e que pretende angariar fundos para os Médicos Sem fronteiras, [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
[...] Making a positive step is the biggest reason of all for supporting the campaign. Certainly there are many atrocities which have happened, but it doesn’t just need bad people to commit them. It also requires many other people to stand watching and say nothing. Silence is the Enemy is a very apt title. If something can be done to raise awareness of the actions in Africa, hopefully it will also get people asking what we can do to tackle sexual violence in the UK. To add your voice read Sheril Kirshenbaum’s post at the Intersection. [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Silence Is The Enemy
Rape is wrong. Regardless of what country it’s happening in.
I doubt anyone disputes that, and I’m sure the majority of my (admittedly meager) readership has heard about this initiative elsewhere in the blogosphere. But just in case you ha…
June 1st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I applaud your initiative here. I still can’t understand how rape and various forms of sexual assault continue to be taken lightly by some males. Much progress has been made on this problem here in the USA but in some foreign cultures rape is still seen as little more than a prank. The only way this will change is for loud, repeated insistence that all forms of sexual assault or coercion are absolutely unacceptable under all circumstances.
A sad warning, however: do not expect to have much of an overall impact in the short term. Male attitudes towards sex are deeply ingrained; it will take decades of repeated loud reminders to alter those attitudes. I remember when feminists made a big push against rape in the 1970s. They accomplished a lot, and they were successful, I think, in establishing that “No means no”, eliminating the rapist’s defense that, if the victim hadn’t been beaten to within an inch of her life, she obviously wanted it. So, yes, a decade’s worth of hard work by millions of women all over the country succeeded in improving matters. But the problem isn’t solved. I think it’s time for another big push, and I’m glad to see you taking the initiative here. Your focus is more international, and I fear that you will face greater opposition. But the push needs to be made, and I’ll be at least a “patron of virtue” here.
I wonder if it might not be possible to come up with some sort of “big tent” approach here? Do you think it might work to engage the participation of conservative elements of our society, say, churches, to get a joint statement that EVERYBODY agrees to denouncing loudly and clearly ALL forms of sexual violence?
June 1st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Sheril, Bravo for speaking out and for this awareness campaign. My blog just launched and it’s not a monetary blog, but I have posted on this issue just the same, with links to you, to Doctors Without Borders, and to Kristof’s op-ed piece. I’ve also posted a link and comment on Facebook. If everyone does a little something, we WILL make a difference. Thank you again.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
It’s worth having a look at this photo essay from the NY Times (it’s a couple of years old, but things haven’t changed much):
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/10/06/world/20071002CONGO_15.html
Along with this brochure from the World Health Organization – it shows the problem, but also shows there are solutions through support to local organizations like Umama in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. http://www.who.int/entity/hac/crises/cod/sgbv/sgbv_brochure.pdf
Of course the main challenge is making the practice unacceptable – something which will require pressure from donors, governments, the military, paramilitaries and communities.
This is a hugely worthwhile campaign and it’s wonderful you’re leading the charge. At the same time, I was a bit disappointed to see huge Shell advertisements on your website. It is violence which erupts over the fighting for natural resources which often fuels sexual violence against women.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Thanks Christine.
As for the ads, just like at our old home on Scienceblogs.com, we don’t control them. However, I’ve already expressed I share Joe’s perspective on Shell’s ‘solution‘ to our carbon problem.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
[...] very important cause, which is explained at length by Sheril Kirshenbaum at The Intersection , who writes: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=32352517
Watch it if you can stomache it.
…And basically what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys, children, in cases that have been [video] recorded, the boys were sodomized, with the cameras rolling, and the worst above all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking. That your government has, and they’re in total terror it’s going to come out.
- Seymour Hersh http://www.pastpeak.com/archives/2004/07/post_1.htm
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/05/2006-australian-documentary-on-torture.html
So now it’s time to start worrying about Congo because Kristoff says so and it feels good. Some are already warning not to expect to have much of an impact on the short term. No kidding. There’s not going to be any term in which any influence will count for any improvement, instead it will get worse if it is seen that it is the US interfering.
This seems to be a very tough lesson for the educated classes but you have to base your priority of action not any what you perceive to be the worst, but on where you can make a difference. You can’t make a difference in Sudan or Congo, but you can in the US and there is enough to be done as you can see, but perhaps choose not to. Maybe it is not as rewarding for your feelgood glands, but it is much more effective even though it isn’t either anything you can win in a single attention span.
And sweeping the stairs from top to bottom is the only way in the cleaning business.
I’m sorry if I offended anyone, but I think a little reality check is in order.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:09 am
Funny that there’s been a lot of discussion in my group of physics friends in Waterloo recently about how important it is to challenge the silence around rape, to challenge a culture where jokes about rape are still acceptable, and to start talking about how we can create a safe space for the brave women and men who survive sexual (and other forms of physical) abuse. As a survivor and a physicist, let me say thanks for posting about this on a science blog. No community should be exempt from this dialogue.
And thanks for becoming empowered and involved. I can only hope that more survivors feel like they can.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 am
[...] to shift gears without depressing the clutch, but I do so for a reason: to draw attention to an effort launched by Kirshenbaum to attack a problem that is horrifying in its scope: Today begins a very important initiative [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:00 am
[...] to shift gears without depressing the clutch, but I do so for a reason: to draw attention to an effort launched by Kirshenbaum to attack a problem that is horrifying in its scope: Today begins a very important initiative [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:45 am
Sheril, you rock.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:37 am
Done with links to this post.
Found you through Isis and Zuska. Proud to do my small (very small!) part.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 am
[...] Kirshenbaum at The Intersection, (as well as folks at just about every blog I follow) are working to raise awareness of the [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
[...] Blogs / The Intersection « Silence Is The Enemy [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 am
[...] Krishenbaum, of Discover blog, has started an awareness campaign Silence is the Enemy. The various accounts she links to are even more [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
[...] at the Intersection has put up a brave post, using her own experience with sexual assault to bring attention to the plight of victims of sexual [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
[...] recently been assaulted. She has taken the outrage and anger from her awful ordeal and created Silence is the Enemy, an initiative to raise global awareness regarding the mass rapes going on in so many war torn and [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 am
Maybe if you hadn’t been out of the kitchen where you belong, this wouldn’t have happened…
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Yeah, because no women are EVER sexually assaulted in their homes by their boyfriends, husbands, fathers, brothers, cousins, uncles, or friends. Ever. I only ever read about that shit in the newspaper, like, twice a week.
At least Jack Ash, while showing himself to be a complete moron, was able to choose an appropriate pseudonym for himself. Though Ass Hat would have been even better.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Done
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
What a great project — please count us in.
http://www.svfreenyc.org/blog/
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
[...] so I am a little late in seeing Sheril Kirshenbaum’s post at The Intersection on her project Silence Is The Enemy, dedicated to raising awareness about/fighting rape and sexual assualt in Liberia and around the [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
[...] 2, 2009 Via Sheril Kirshenbaum: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
[...] a blogosphere initiative that has started to take off over the past 24 hours. It’s called Silence is the Enemy. It was launched yesterday on a blog called The Intersection (it’s worth reading the full [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 am
[...] rapes that take place in various parts of the world. She writes very well about the issue in her first blog post on the issue and I recommend that you have a careful read of it. Note that just your clicking on the link and [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Take a listen to the new Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown, and in particular: “Know Your Enemy”
“Do you know your enemy?.
Do you know your enemy?
Well, gotta know your enemy, wah eh..”
…..
“Silence is the enemy.”
“Against the urgency”
“So rally up the demons of your soul”
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Green Day, eh?
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
[...] also want to point everyone in the direction of the Silence is the Enemy project. There are already quite a few great posts up about this initiative to actively draw [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Dear Sheril, sorry to hear, but as you seem to say, nothing has really happened. I hope that the man wasn’t Mooney – in that case, even the short encounter you described would be a pretty strong tea.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
This is a great initiative for online culture! I am a writer using twitter as a platform, and my current story has deep roots & connections in this alltooprevalent issue.
Let’s wake the masses!
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
[...] visit this site to find out more about the Silence is the Enemy Project and join in donating to Doctors without Boarders to assist in medical aid to these [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
[...] — Tags: Doctors without Borders, Silence in the Enemy — Cat @ 2:45 pm Please visit Intersection and read about the new initiative that Sheril Kirshenbaum has started in support of women and [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
And yet Phil Plait can prime his readers to harass women by always noting how ‘hawt’ female scientists/geeks/skeptics are whenever they appear on his blog and push the skepchicks nude calendar, and says with a straight face he has no part in our culture of toxcity and rape acceptance.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
[...] in the Enemy Posted on June 2, 2009 by Bento Sheril Kirshenbaum writing in Discover: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I will also be linking to your site and encouraging people to participate – thank you.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
[...] a blogging event going on right now, and for the rest of June, started by Sheril Kirschenbaum at The Intersection, in an effort to draw attention to the frequent and widespread rape occurring presently in Liberia, [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
[...] to everyone who’s joined Silence is the Enemy so far through your donations, word of mouth, letters to members, facebook, articles and more. To [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
[...] Kirshenbaum’s remarkably successful initiative to draw attention to the plight of female victims in Liberia and throughout the world1 prompted me to revisit a post I made last year. The study which was the subject of that post was [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:14 am
[...] Kirshenbaum’s remarkably successful initiative to draw attention to the plight of female victims in Liberia and throughout the world1 prompted me to revisit a post I made last year. The study which was the subject of that post was [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 am
[...] finally, a number of blogs are participating in Silence is the Enemy, to raise awareness of the systematic abuse of women and girls in Liberia and globally. [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Thanks for bringing light to this issue and leading the charge to bring about change. My organization, The Xenia Institute, recently did a public event focusing on violence against women in our community and state, and we’re looking for ways to broaden our scope to look at the global impacts of such violence. We’ve posted a link to this blog at our site and we’ll look for ways to blog about the issue. Again, thank you, and peace.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
[...] and the title of a very important movement that I’m going to be working to help out. Silence has allowed the systemic mass rape of young women to persist unchallenged in many parts of o… Work on that, in your mind: Thousands and thousands of rape victims, often victimized multiple [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
This comment is absolutely despicable on a number of levels.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
[...] for itself. Read the whole thing. [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
[...] Without Borders, which works with many of the victims of these crimes. Sheril at Discover’s The Intersection and Dr. Isis at ScienceBlogs’s On Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess are apparently [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 8:54 am
[...] Can you imagine, if the beautiful garden you planted is dying all of sudden, the pain would be enormous that only those who experienced can understand it. Mass raping, a dirty and brutal tactic used in some of those war ravaged countries like Liberia, Sudan, and the Congo. Where mass raping of children is common. According to a survey 75% of women in these countries are raped. A true story is written in this disturbing NYT article, what if the more developed and secured countries are not safe too where there is no guaranty for safety of a women a such story is here [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
[...] have received a tremendous amount of email since Monday regarding Silence Is The Enemy. Many letters arrived from victims; several revealing they have never spoken out publicly. [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
[...] in the U.S. lately, as I’ve been developing a website to aggregate the posts related to the Silence Is The Enemy project. Before I started reading the #goodsex thread I was already in a bit of a cynical state, [...]
June 5th, 2009 at 8:29 am
[...] Start with Sheril, at the Intersection and then to the other blogs that are donating their click revenue in June. [...]
June 5th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
[...] Silence Is The Enemy has gone international with 120+ posts in many languages from all sorts of places and people. I’ve had trouble keeping track of everyone involved in the coalition, so if you don’t see your blog listed here, email me. The facebook group will soon surpass 4,000 members and the official website is close to launch. [...]
June 5th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
[...] at raising awareness of sexual violence, not just in Liberia but globally. They’re calling it Silence is the Enemy, and those involved are now donating all of their June blogging revenues to Medecins Sans [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
[...] Sheril, Isis, Alice,Zuska and many others have introduced you to the Silence Is the Enemy project, aimed at condemning and reducing sexual violence in places like Liberia, Congo, Darfur and other conflict ridden places in the world. In Liberia, for example, as many as 3/4 of the women have been raped, often repeatedly. And 28% of new rape victims are under the age of 4. Those are girls the age of my daughter and the girls who play on the playground with her. Raped and left to suffer a lifetime of physical and psychological consequences. (At the bottom of this post, please watch an important video from Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times as he talks with a 7-year old Liberian rape victim.) [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
[...] Silence is the enemy, says Sheril Kirshenbaum, and I agree. This is one of the issues I meant to write so much more about. We can not stay silent any more. There are so many women and children being raped and abused and the only way to bring about some change is to talk about it. Discuss it. Get the information out there and demand change. An International Rescue Committee survey suggests 12 percent of girls aged 17 and under acknowledged having been sexually abused in some way over the previous 18 months. Further, of the 275 new sexual violence cases treated Jan-April by Doctors Without Borders, 28 percent involve children aged 4 or younger, and 33 percent involve children aged 5 through 12. That’s 61% age 12 or under. We read about their plight and see the figures, but it’s so easy to feel helpless to act in isolation. But these are not statistics, they are girls. Together we can do more. Mass rape persists because of inertia so let’s create momentum. [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
[...] http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/01/silence-is-the-enemy/ [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
[...] the introductory post: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
[...] the introductory post: Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young [...]
June 8th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I find this to be such an important issue in this world. Being the mom of two little girls I will do what I can to pass the word. Thank you for doing what you do! http://www.tacotongue.com/2009/06/silence-is-enemy.html
June 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
[...] @ 22:42 I have been thinking about choice and control a lot in the last week. The the Silence is the Enemy blog campaign, and the murder of Dr. Tiller have coincided with a time that I am having to make a number of [...]
June 8th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
[...] bloggers whom I respect a lot are having an initiative this month. It’s called Silence is the Enemy and it’s goal is to bring awareness to the plight of women and girls in various African [...]
June 9th, 2009 at 5:08 am
I’m just adding my few links to help googleboost this campaign into orbit.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:06 am
[...] Players stalk a female character as she waits for a train in the subway station. Apparently, you can even virtually pray for a gust of wind to blow up her skirt to peak at her underwear and fondle her body while she tries to fight back. Sure sounds familiar so far–can anyone say post-traumatic stress? [...]
June 11th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
[...] whatever else you do, go here to do something positive and support the Silence is the Enemy [...]
June 11th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
[...] “Silence is the Enemy” lyric is timely. And mentioned in the comments, so I can’t even claim I’m clever [...]
June 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am
I don’t know the history behind the photo used on this campaign, however as a woman hailing from the part of the world this campaign targets I have to ask why a photograph of a white woman is being used for a campaign targeting rape survivors primarily in Liberia and the DRC. As African women our voices are not often heard and we are often invisible in global cultural discourse. We are objects rather than subjects. To see a white woman standing for the raped woman of Africa is just one more way African women are rendered invisible. I am deeply touched to see how many of you care about my sisters’ suffering and I applaud your good intentions, however as an African woman this is not the kind of initiative I can support. Campaigns that keep us -the women of Africa-, silent, are ultimately not useful to our cause.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:54 am
[...] at raising awareness of sexual violence, not just in Liberia but globally. They’re calling it Silence is the Enemy, and those involved are now donating all of their June blogging revenues to Medecins Sans [...]
June 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
[...] Magazine’s website, Sheril Kirshenbaum shared her own story of sexual assault to kick off the “Silence Is the Enemy” campaign. The goal of this campaign is to overwhelm the silence on this issue with a chorus of [...]
June 16th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
[...] to everyone for so many emails with Silence Is The Enemy links, news, questions on kissing, book tour suggestions, and more. It will take a long time to [...]
June 17th, 2009 at 8:24 am
[...] with that violence before it can come into play. This is why part of the discussions around Silence Is the Enemy confused and disturbed me greatly. The general unwillingness to consider the possibility that under [...]
June 17th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
While we are on a great cause of exposing violence against women, I also wanted to bring to everyone’s attention to the situation in Northern Sri Lanka.
The GoSL unilaterally broke off the ceasefire agreement in 2007 and the fourth wave of Eelam war had begun. The war intensified to an unprecedented level since late last year as the GoSL was determined to destroy every single LTTE member at any cost. The Sri Lankan armed forces started bombing and shelling indiscriminately. They did not care about civilian casualties as they deliberately targeted public places such as schools, hospitals and temples. Thousands of men, women, children and elderly were killed ruthlessly by the Sir Lankan army. The GoSL army even attacked the Tamil civilians who themselves had herded into an area that the GoSL claimed was a “safe zone” with full force of its military and heavy weaponry. The number of civilian casualties rose from 50 to 60 per day in January 2009 to more than 1,000 a day in late March and April 2009. The most conservative number stands at 20,000 casualties since January 2009.
Rest of the ‘fortunate’ 300,000 civilians who fled the conflict zone are now being ‘processed’ in military controlled ‘welfare camps’ which resemble more of concentration camps. Apparently they are being checked to make sure that there are no LTTE members hiding within any group of people. There are barb wired camps with people kept more or less as prisoners. The UN has asked for access into these camps many times and been denied. Children are separated from their parents; families are split and put into different camps. No independent media is allowed near the camps. The first independent report was aired on UK, Channel 4 in late April. The visas of the reporters were revoked and they were deported from Sri Lanka immediately.
Channel 4 Link: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/grim+scenes+at+sri+lankan+camps+/3126257
There have been numerous reports of human rights abuses in these detainment camps. As with many wars the sufferings of women in such conflicts is much greater. The Tamil women have gone and are going thorough unthinkable mental and physical torment by the Sri Lankan and Indian armed forces during each conflict. Throughout history, women’s bodies have been considered the justifiable booty of victorious armies. In conflict situations, whether they are inter-state wars, civil wars, or conflicts born out of deeply divided societies, women are specifically targeted in large numbers for acts of sexual and gender-based violence. They are tortured, raped and stripped of their personal sense of dignity.
There are many reports now of kidnaps, rapes and murders of girls in the camps committed by the Sri Lankan army. There are even reports of forced abortions of pregnant women. The Channel 4 footage shows an anonymous whistle blower talking about women’s decomposing bodies being left for days in some of the tents in the camps. Recent sky news footage reveals the shocking negligence of a Sri Lankan government official, carelessly blaming the NGO officials for the offences.
Sky news Link:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Sri-Lanka-Tamil-refugees-tell-of-rape-and-kinappings-in-camps/Video/200905315285812?lpos=video_Article_Related_Content_Region_1&lid=VIDEO_15285812_Sri_Lanka:_Tamil_refugees_tell_of_rape_and_kinappings_in_camps
The armed forces have a history of horrific sexual violations against Tamil women. While several incidents of sexual violence against Tamil women have gone unreported for obvious reasons, the details of many reported ones too have not been revealed. Recently there was a video of armed forces removing the clothes from killed or captured LTTE female soldiers and sexually assaulting them. In many cases, the victims were killed after being sexually violated. The most gruesome was that of Koneswari where a grenade was exploded inside her vagina after being raped and killed, to remove all traces of the sexual offence. There is clear evidence that sexual violence in many different ways had been practised by the Sri Lanka armed forces. The continuing pattern of sexual violence against Tamil women persists because of the climate of virtual impunity that prevails. In the thirty year war, not one army personnel have been held accountable for any war crimes. There were many women in the past who have survived and many brothers of women who were violated who have joined the LTTE later as that’s the only way they thought that they can get justice.
Unheard voices, the blog of Regina David, a former worker at women’s centres in northern Sir Lanka for 23 years, portrays firsthand accounts of many horror stories:
http://reginidavid.wordpress.com
June 18th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
[...] but to direct people at the slew of links she put up, pointing us to some excellent reads in the Silence is the Enemy [...]
June 19th, 2009 at 9:07 am
[...] just a few weeks Silence Is The Enemy has grown exponentially, with more support than I could have imagined. The Facebook group alone [...]
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:27 am
[...] this month, Sheril Kirshenbaum wrote Silence is the Enemy: a blog initiative with the idea of speaking out about rape to avoid the wall of silence. I think [...]
June 29th, 2009 at 2:54 am
[...] late May, Nicholas Kristof wrote an article about the mass persistence of rapes in West Africa. The article inspired my fellow bloggers [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
[...] the first month Silence Is The Enemy has grown exponentially. We can already measure success in the thousands of dollars that will be [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 1:12 am
[...] included in ‘Silence Is The Enemy’ campaign Last month, I blogged about the Silence Is The Enemy campaign started by science blogger Sheril Kirshenbaum over at The Intersection to help fight [...]
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
[...] Silence Is The Enemy | The Intersection | Discover MagazineCulture | In 2006 I was sexually assaulted. I never expected to blog about it.One evening in DC, a stranger grabbed me as I walked from the metro stop to my apartment a. … of women and young girls, particularly in Liberia. It is being organized by Sheril Kirshenbaum at The Intersection. She will have updates throughout the month, and has a list of actions we can take to raise […] 30. (VAW) Violence Against Women: “Silence Is The Enemy” — A new collective. … [...]
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
[...] no senado norte-americano acerca do mesmo tema. Por fim, ainda no Jugular, a iniciativa “O Silêncio é o Inimigo“, já amplamente subscrita, e que pretende angariar fundos para os Médicos Sem fronteiras, [...]
September 15th, 2009 at 8:45 am
[...] Is The Enemy, which began in June, was only the beginning. It’s one effort in the long and continued crusade to end sexual [...]
October 9th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
[...] Kirshenbaum at The Intersection thought that we can do something, we can make a difference. She decided to do something, and [...]
November 9th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
[...] Is The Enemy: Richmond, California (CNN) — Investigators say as many as 20 people were involved in or stood and watched the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a California high school homecoming dance Saturday night. [...]
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
[...] Kristof–co-author of the moving book Half The Sky and voice that inspired Silence Is The Enemy–has a thoughtful Op-Ed in last week’s NYTimes entitled The Religious Wars. He touches [...]