Oooohkay... Anti-rape device?

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Anti-rape device postponed

June 21, 2006, 06:45

The controversial anti-rape device, Rapex, which was scheduled to make its debut on store shelves this month, is likely only to be available towards the end of the year. The invention which was launched in August last year, is the brainchild of Sonette Ehlers, a retired South African blood technician. The mechanism will clamp itself to a rapist's penis forcing him to seek medical treatment and face arrest.

According to Ehlers, stock of the device is being manufactured overseas and will be imported back from the East into South Africa before the end of the year. Ehlers says she spends a lot of time in prisons and townships educating people about the device.

The project has been greeted with enthusiasm as well as scepticism. One of those critical of the device is Charlene Smith, a rape survivor, journalist and activist on women's issues. She says she believes the device will increase the risk of victims being killed.

"I would be appalled and every rape survivor I know would be appalled and be incredibly concerned, if the Rapex device does actually make it to stores. We believe that women who use it, will be killed by the rapist. If this device clamps onto a man, that man is right next to the woman, he's not going to jump out and say 'oh gosh this is hurting me'. He's going to kill that woman. So we increase the risk of the women raped, being killed," Smith said.

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