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Women of colour are too often ignored in the fight against rape
by Cristel Amiss

STARTING today, the UN has called for 16 days of action for the elimination of violence against women. This year’s theme is “prevention.”

According to UN Women, one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

Who are the one in three? Is this figure accurate? Where did it come from? Does it include the majority of women and girls in the world who are of colour and grassroots, and the millions risking their lives to flee war? From the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haiti, from Iraq to Uganda, from India to Peru, our struggle to end rape is largely invisible.

  • Cristel Amiss is an activist with the Black Women’s Rape Action Project.
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