Session 4: Sexual Violence

Goals

Our goals for this session are that you will:

• be confronted by situations of sexual violence, sex trafficking and modern slavery of women around the world
• be able to describe causes and contributing factors to sexual violence against women
• consider how to respond appropriately to suspected situations of sex trafficking and modern slavery

Recap (5 mins)

In the last session we thought about:

• Forced marriage: child abuse by another name
• Intimate partner violence: a problem of power and control – inside the church as well.

In Session 4 we will be talking about two more difficult topics, trafficking and prostitution, and then the use of rape as a weapon of war.

Trafficking and Prostitution

Watch Video 6: Trafficking and Prostitution (8 mins)

In this video, Craig Prest from Hope for Justice answers the following questions:

• Where are the women you are helping coming from, and how do they end up being trafficked into prostitution?
• What kind of conditions and treatment do they face?
• What enables them to break free, and what are their needs when they do?
• What support do you provide?

Reflection (20 mins)

From the video and your reading in Scars Across Humanity, try to answer the following questions:

1. According to Elaine Storkey’s book, what is the link between social attitudes to prostitution and human trafficking?
2. “Sexual trafficking is a problem of supply and demand.” (Shared Hope International) Do you agree? What can be done to reduce the demand for trafficked women?
3. How would you recognise victims of human trafficking, and what would you do when you saw a suspected case? 

To help with question 3, look at the information on The Clewer Initiative’s website about how to recognise signs of modern slavery in both adults and children: https://theclewerinitiative.org/modern-slavery/spot-the-signs The page also has information about how to report a suspected case of modern slavery. You might want to keep a record of this information along with other useful links and phone numbers already provided in the course. 

Bible Reflection (15 mins)

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-12. Consider the following questions:

1. Thinking about the story of David and Bathsheba, how do the concepts of trafficking, rape and war relate to this story?
2. What is God’s response to David’s behaviour? How does He see the situation?
3. What can this teach us about responding to situations of trafficking and rape?

Rape and War

Johannesburg is unfortunately known as the “rape capital of the world”. After the rape and killing of Uyinene Mrwetyana in August 2019, the #AmINext movement sought to raise awareness of gender-based violence. Al Jazeera interviewed a number of South African activists.

Watch the video clip

The video starts at 3m 03s. Watch to 18m

Consider the following questions:

• Do you agree that social factors such as inequality and unemployment contribute to rape and violence against women? Why, or why not?
• What is “rape culture”? Why does it exist and how can it be changed?

Response and Action (10 mins) 

For the men: Take the White Ribbon Promise at www.whiteribbon.org.uk/promise 

All: Install Stop the Traffik’s Stop App on your phone.

Pray: Spend a few minutes praying for a change of heart among those who exploit women and children through trafficking and prostitution. Pray for God to liberate those who are trapped. Also pray for women who have suffered rape whether in war situations or not, for emotional, physical and psychological healing and restoration. Also pray for the organisations that are working against these diabolical practises, that they would be effective and have the resources they need to bring about change. 

For next time, read chapters 12 and 13 of Scars Against Humanity, and also identify and think about a Bible passage or story that speaks about the role of women.

Resources 

Hope for Justice works to end modern slavery in the UK, US, Norway, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ethiopia and Vietnam. https://hopeforjustice.org 

CEASE UK Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation – takes a holistic approach to ending sexual exploitation, including sexual abuse, prostitution, pornography and sex trafficking. https://ceaseuk.org 

Stop the Traffik campaigns against human trafficking www.stopthetraffik.org 

Solace Women’s Aid is a London-based charity for domestic and sexual violence survivors. Also runs the Amari project for trafficked survivors of sexual exploitation. www.solacewomensaid.org 

The Snowdrop Project provides support and casework for survivors of trafficking. https://snowdropproject.co.uk

The Clewer Initiative helps the Church of England raise awareness of modern slavery. www.theclewerinitiative.org 

The Defenders encourages men to realise the link between pornography and the commercial sex industry, and pledge to fight against sex trafficking from the demand side. https://sharedhope.org/join-the-cause/become-a-defender/ 

Help

If you are a man who has had involvement with any of the issues discussed tonight then we recommend The Naked Truth who provide education and support for men struggling with pornography.

End of session 4