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Help- Thousands of children raped annually due to aids cure myth
Posted by CreativeBlogger • 9/24/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog, Help, rape
I feel sick and want to cry (in fact I am)
Quite by accident while researching the HIV vaccine for an up coming article I stumbled across something, that I have never heard of before, though it may not be news to some here.
In Africa there is a myth that having sex with young children and VERY young virgins will cure you of Aids.
More details here
www.problogs.com/Post3421.htm
In 2001 21,000 children were raped in Africa and only 1 in 35 cases is reported. It still goes on as the disussion forum I stumbled across confirmed.
People emailed a Dr to ask of they should have sex with a child???
On the 27th we have blog against abuse day.
If this is a little known about system of abuse then we bloggers can let the world know that this is happenning.
Please help raise awareness on this issue.
Africa may be a long way from home, but those children need our protection.
User Comments
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Absolutely terrible. Thousands are raped in non-third world countries too every year, and again not all are reported. Personally I think it's worth getting your own house in order before going after someone else's, but rape is a global pandemic for sure.-
As far as I know they aren't being raped for soul purpose of being cured from Aids.
How much effort would it take to educate them in the reality, it does not work?
Not a lot really, so yes the effort is worth puting in, and my house, their house, makes no difference to me.
If all people shared your (only in my back garden) attitude, then when 9/11 happened, it wouldn't have even made front page News except in the USA. But it did, because people around the world cared.
But judging by the response to this thread, perhaps you are right, no one cares because it's not happenning in the Uk or USA. Sad really. Very Sad. -
Yet again your attitude just plain stinks! -
Ohh no I didn't mean it that way, what I meant was rape happens everywhere for a variety of reasons, not just Africa. I'm trying to say the reasons don't matter, what matters is it happens and needs to end wherever it is and personally such a crusade needs to start at home.
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Thats what i thought you meant importjap
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Yes, this has been going on for a while. I remember joining a protest over it back as far as 2000. There are several programs going on over there to educate them about this dangerous myth, there are educational programs, billboards, special informational task forces, etc. I haven't heard whether or not the numbers have fallen.
One problem with this, just like the practice of female circumcision, is that they see as foreigners who don't know what we're talking about or don't have their best interests at heart. Well, the circumcision issue has more to do with them ending a religious practice, but again they don't listen to what we have to say about it.
I do hope we can continue to financially support the organizations over there that are working to end this horror. Sometimes I can't even sleep for thinking about the things that go on in other parts of the world and how much more we could do, but you have to wonder if money would even help the problems?-
Thank you for you response Purdles
I think as you say money cannot help the problem, it's just a case of banging home the message and trying to educate them.
This is why this particular case made me so sad. But this is not only rape it is a death sentance, so whereas the first poster replied that 'it happens everywhere' rape does , but rape that is almost 100% guarranteed to result in death due to Aids, is not something that happens everywhere. Aids is a horrifing disease and the thought that these little chidlren are not only enduring abuse but then HIV and Aids too.
Also the forum where I first encountered this problem, wasn't catering to an African audience, but I could be wrong. I will check back.
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When I was working with health workers here in South Africa about fifteen years ago, they told me that was one of their biggest challenges in educating, people about that myth as well as others. A few days ago I received an e mail on the same topic asking to sign a petition calling for action. I added my name to it, but it is going to take a lot more than that to change beliefs grounded in traditional roots.-
I read what is referred to as a conspiracy theory a while back about HIV and the theory is supported by some highly qualified HIV specialists that indicated that not every diagnosed as HIV positive actually had HIV.
Is it possible that the reason this myth has taken hold is that some have been wrongly diagnosed and then found out later that they were not infected?
Surely after several thousand rapes and NO cure, the myth would have died out.
So is it possible that many diagnosed just are not infact HIV positive at all?
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Alive and well and there is a huge rift now between modern medicine and medicine doctors. There are a lot of people speaking out against it and books being written on it.
As everyone said, it's traditional roots and it will take a lot to change the views especially since foreign powers are seen as intruders and the enemy (and to a degree, rightfully so). But there are so many atrocities, there is a lot to work through. In fact, the most dangerous places to live are in Africa now.-
There is more controversy as I mention below regarding Aids, which I will write about one day soon. I just need to do a lot of research to make sure it's up to date and not supporting conspiracies.
Just getting people talking about these issues helps I think.
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Sad but HOW are you going to stop it?
Think blogging about it will make that much difference?-
SiteProPlus has been promoting the Bloggers against Abuse campaign taking place on the 27th.
I take it you are not partipating?
It is a question of raising awareness. -
IS it going to actually STOP the problem is what I am asking.
Um, don't like your tone when you say that about partipating...I do not know if I will, but thats beside the point.
I mean how many out THERE where it happens are going to get the message?
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It has to make some difference, if as Creative says we all write something on the 27th who knows you might just reach the people who can make a difference,remember the power of one. I WILL WRITE ABOUT IT ON THE 27TH!!
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ROBSELLAN
The BIGGEST influence on human beings in the world today is the MEDIA.
Well what is the emdia if not a few words on a bit of paper or text on a screen.
Blogs are a new media platform, if they were never read why the heck do we have them?
I have written a few inspirational articles in the past that really did inspire inspire people. I know because of the warm response I had.
Once someone posted a very racist article and I responded strongly,on her blog and on mine. She removed her post, wrote another one apologising and thanked me for raising her awareness.
If one blog can change one persons attitude towards abuse or to encourage them to seek help if they are an abuser or abused then it is worth it as one childs life might be saved.
Is that not worth writing a short blog on abuse?
I think so!
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Common Rob, you can do it.
Your article could be the one that makes a difference. -
DONT SHOUT at me.
Spell my name right please too.
I agree with blogs being that, a good media.
WHAT I am saying is how do we get that message to those who CAN make that difference over there.
WHO are we really aiming the message at?
Hope thats clear now.-
Just open your heart to what you feel deeply about and write and let the impact take care of itself.
Somone is an abuser may read it, or someone who has been abused, or they may know an abuser etc. That blog may inspire them to take action, seek help.
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And why you should think twice before blogging about it:
"...it both propagates as revealed truth the unfounded claim that child rape in South Africa is the product solely of a belief that having sex with virgins cures AIDS and minimizes a horrific and complex social problem down to one of 'ignorant Africans and their life-threatening reliance upon superstition and jungle magic'...it furthers dangerous racist stereotypes..."
- from Snopes.com-
It is not difficult to report the problem in a responsible manner.
I don't feel racist towards African people after finding out this information. Far from it. If I did I would not be blogging to save them.
Also, those who wish these problems not to be aired have an agenda. They want these people to die. I don't want them to die. I am not blogging for punishment, I am blogging for education. I am blogging to save the children, so they can have more children! It is the racists who say 'keep quiet'.
I have no time for racists.
I will blog on. -
Meanwhile Uri, I take your point and will ensure I make it very clear what is needed here is education, nothing more.
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A confession: Before checking snopes.com, I first thought to write something like "do you honestly think even one African that have 21th century infrastructure, electricity, a computer, internet connection, and is reading blogs regularly, is capable of believing this fairytale"; but then I remembered some of the stuff people wrote on the alternative medicine discussion thread on the PopSci group...
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Fortunately most Africans and other humans on this planet are honorable people of good character who are incapable of such atrocities....
Africa and its people are suffering tremendously and silly as it may seem we can make a difference over the internet....
Much of the starvation, economic and health problems in Africa(other than colonial exploitation)is the direct result of wars/exploitation due to petty warlord dictators....
We can as internet users/bloggers influence the Putins and Arms Manufacturers to to stop selling arms that make their way into these murderer's hands...
We can as internet users/bloggers influence the so-called United Nations to intervene in all occurences of genocide....
We can at least try....-
Indeed we can Gerry,
These people are being neglected.
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Hi, thanks, I juts read your latest blog re Iran situation.
Many yrs ago when war was first declared in Iraq, I said " They will go after Iran next". They are so predictable.
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Oh yes they are, just added the recent viewer widget and noticed you took a look, good to see another freelance blog journalist that can think
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thanks, I shall keep an eye on your blog.
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I have known about this Topic for years.
Majority of the Superpowers couldn't give a rats *** about dying people in Africa. -
Uri seems to think it's a myth?
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Well it's no myth, some Tribal Leaders in Africa (small pockets)
Are just really dumb and ignorant when it comes to this disease and how it kills.
This story has been all over the media and not many people now about it or believe it, and it's sad. -
As usual in these matters:
www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/babyrape.htm-
Thanks for that link Uri.
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No one is disputing that that there are other reasons for the rape, but I know first hand the myth exists because I first came across it when the questions were raised by men on a forum which provides advice about Aids. The conversation took place in August 2007 and it was not one conversatiuon but several started by different people.
Also, the myth is known by more than one person on this thread.
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"Cati Vawda, the director of the Children's Rights Centre in Durban, said: "There is a belief across South Africa that a virgin will cure a man of HIV or Aids. We have no idea where this idea has come from, but it has been around for a few years and has certainly taken hold."
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/11/wrape11.xml&sSheet...
Like i stated earlier in this thread"
"Between January and June, more than 400 cases of child rape were recorded in the country, up from 238 cases during the same period last year. Some say that traditional healers, from whom most people seek out medical advice, are to blame, according to Reuters/Inquirer." www.thebody.com/content/art11850.html
Here is some truth or fiction for ya
www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/aids-virgins.htm
ok i don't want to post anymore about this, i really don't like reading the stories.-
Makes me sick to my stomach.
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this case was happened in my country recently and the whole country was sad to death of the victim, which was only 8 years old. high reward was offer to whom that can bring to trace the rapper -
this case was happened in my country recently and the whole country was sad to death of the victim, which was only 8 years old. high reward was offer to whom that can bring to trace the raper
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