Ending Sexual Violence

We Have The Right To Live Free Of Oppression And To Exercise Sovereignty Over Our Bodies. Feminist Filmmaker, Writer And Activist Aishah Shahidah Simmons Has A Few Ideas On How We Can Get There.

- Aishah Shahidah Simmons

As a Black lesbian who is an incest and rape survivor, for almost 25 years, I’ve worked consistently on ending sexual violence, with a specific focus on Black communities in the United States. I’ve traveled, lectured, taught and screened my Ford Foundation–funded film, NO! The Rape Documentary, throughout North America, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. I am constantly reminded that all forms of sexual violence are human rights violations and that we need a multipronged approach to end it. The courageous Black women who led the anti–sexual violence movement in the U.S. in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s must be acknowledged for their grassroots community organizing. But even with the tremendous progress we’ve made since then, racist and sexist stereotypes continue to render Black women, transgender people and children vulnerable to multiple forms of sexual oppression. While “stranger danger” remains a threat, 70 percent of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows. Here are steps that we can take toward ending this global nightmare.

1 BELIEVE SURVIVORS