Slut. Nympho. Whore. Bitch. These words are more than mere vulgarities.

• They are words that silence the woman’s views on her body and sexuality.
• They are words that control and abuse her.
• They are words that reduce her body to the services it offers a man.

Today, we reject these words and every other form of sexual oppression we face. Victims of sexual violence are doubly cursed by a society that turns not only a blind eye, but points accusing fingers at them. Why should we put up with sexual harassment at work? Why should we accept blame and shame when we are sexually assaulted or raped?  Why do rape victims still have to face questions like:

“It’s your fault, you didn’t walk away.”

“Who asked you to dress like that?”

For how much longer will this society persecute victims?

Section 157(d) of the Evidence Act has been erased from the law, but not from our minds. Women, including trans women, who participate in sex for pleasure or for work are exposed to violence and stigmatization as victim blaming and slut shaming continue unabashed.

So let’s set the record straight today.  Let’s move beyond oppressive labels.

We must reclaim our sexual lives from a society tainted by male privilege and prejudice. A culture of non-violence can only flourish when people of all genders are treated equally.

As we grow towards becoming a more inclusive society, we must be sensitive to the struggles of less visible groups. AWARE is committed to molding a society that defends and upholds the equal rights of all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

1.  Firstly, we will continue to push for anti-discriminatory laws and policies. We will continue to call for the protection of those who are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, such as sex workers, foreign brides, domestic workers and LGBT groups.
2. Secondly, we will also expand our sexual assault befriender service which supports victims through their journey to justice and recovery.
3. Thirdly, on 25^th November 2012, AWARE launched the SHOUT campaign, which stands for Sexual Harassment OUT.  We ask all of you to stand shoulder to shoulder with us and sign our petition, which calls for zero tolerance policies and greater legal protection for victims of workplace sexual harassment.
4. Fourthly, we are also proud to announce that AWARE is launching the We Can! Campaign, for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. Singapore will be the 16^th country to join the global campaign, which has already reached 3.9 million people across 15 countries. So join us as we rev up for this two-year-long effort starting in 2013.  This campaign needs a large pool of passionate volunteers, change makers and strong alliances to make a difference.

There’s still a lot more that we can do together to change society’s mindsets about victims of sexual violence.  Congratulations to Slut Walk for creating this brilliant initiative. Thank you for letting AWARE be part of this movement.

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Poem contributed by AWARE for SlutWalk 2012

 Face-Off

Walking on an invisible street,

Making my way is no easy feat

But my gaze is steady, my shoulders are braced,

I’m ready to fight the constant disgrace

Pushing through a merciless crowd

I hold my head high, I’m fiercely proud

They brand my body, draw on my skin

But I’ll tear off those masks; I’ll wear off my sin

They gave me a name before I could dream

But I’ll square my jaw and fight to redeem

My grandmother’s fears, my mother’s tears

I’ll speak my truth till everyone hears.

I will never grow weary enough to give up my voice,

I’ll tell my story till you respect my choice.