Drunk and raped in Cairns

Inebriated women in Cairns run the risk of being raped, according to local police: Booze fuels sex attacks – cops. The Far North Police area has long had high rates of sexual assaults (or reported sexual assaults). I wonder who is responsible for the sexual attacks? Police, community or individual?

Messages to women to not drink excessively, to not walk home alone and to always stay in contact with another person and to inform them of your whereabouts are often met with disgruntled community squeals of forcing women to be responsible for men’s bad behaviour. I am not in favour of making anyone else responsible for another’s doings, but, I do take the sentiment that local Cairns police were attempting to convey: responsible drinking and personal safety. Research has supported that there has long been a link between alcohol use and sexual assault and that women have to enact safety measures before they become alcohol affected.

Women have the right to go anywhere and do what ever they like: including getting drunk if that is what they fancy. Similarly, women have the right to wear what they like. However, with rights comes responsibility. We all have the right to jump on the plane and go to Papua New Guinea, but we would not do it without having the correct shots, visas or Malaria tablets. We would be responsible and act to protect ourselves.

The international and annual Reclaim the Night movement was born out of women being told to stay indoors after dark. A serial killer on the loose, Police imposed a curfew in an attempt to keep women safe. Women reacted and demanded that Police keep the women safe by catching the killer. Now, more than 30 years later, on the last Friday evening of October, women and children still take to the streets as a reminder of their right to safety, day and night, at home or on the street. I am sure that marching inebriated is not acceptable as it may well void insurance. I am sure that march organisers risk manage against all manner of potential harms. I am sure that march organisers recognise that with rights comes responsibilities.

Who’s job then is it to risk manage and keep inebriated woman safe in Cairns, or any other town? The women, the police, the community?

Photo, “Tired of the night” by sol_one  at stock.xchng.