With reference to statements cited in The Star, 24th May 2004, page 6, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) wholeheartedly support and echo Sabah Muslim Women Lawyers Association president Fatimah Wattie Abu Bakar's call demanding the retraction of statements made by UMNO pro-term chief Roselan Juhar.

WAO strongly condemns Encik Roselan's statements on the grounds that they are misogynistic, insensitive, and trivializes the very suffering, degradation, and horror experienced by rape survivors. Furthermore, statements like this reflect deeply entrenched attitudes that rape is a woman's fault thus discouraging more women to report.

It is also our opinion that public officials should be educated and made more fully aware of the nature and effects of rape, before expressing their views on the subject, so as to ensure that their statements to the Malaysian public do not cause or perpetuate an inaccurate or distorted view of the crime.

Ivy Josiah
Women's Aid Organisation

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