Police Rape Protest
Thursday, 4 March 2004: 09:56
Press Release: Wellington Protest
Police Rape Protest
People will be
gathering from 5:30pm outside the central Wellington Police Station in protest
against the alleged rape cases perpetrated by police that have been highlighted
by the media recently.
“This is a chance for women to express their rage about the police perpetrating
rape, and then covering it up,” says organiser Sarah Helm. “It is a chance to
show that we will not be intimidated by the police force”
“We hope that the Inquiry is genuinely independent, and takes as wide an interpretation
of their brief as possible. They should be examining police culture, and an
independent police complaints procedure,” says Ms Helm.
The protest also draws attention to the plight of the Sri Lankan sexual abuse
survivor whose application for refugee status was turned down by the
Government.
“We are angered by a process which does not accord sexual abuse as a serious
violation of human rights, and disgusted by a government that will not take
steps to protect a child,” says Ms Helm.
“We demand an end to state rape.”
The protest has been organised by a collection of women concerned by recent
reports, and has gained support from
The protest is a ‘noise barrage’ and will aim to disrupt the police in a
peaceful manner. Protestors will have pots, pans, whistles and other
instruments to create noise.
“They have silenced the Sri Lankan girl, and the rape survivors, but they will
not silence us”