Dr. Sonnet Ehlers developed Rape-aXe, a female condom with jagged teeth, in an effort to cut down on sexual culprits in South Africa, a country with one of the worst rape rates within the world. The doctor, who’s fed with the growing number of rape victims in the country, has chosen to give away thousands of the “condom with teeth” devices during the World Cup soccer game events.</p>
Crimes of rape in South Africa
Non-governmental organization CIET Africa conducted a survey ten years ago that showed just how bad sexual violence is in South Africa. About 4,000 women were questioned in the survey, with one in every 3 admitting to have been a victim of rape over the previous year. According to BBC News, more than 50,000 cases are reported to police authorities every year. That figure, however, is only a fraction of the actual number of assaults against women.
The latex condom with teeth
CNN reports that the latex condom with teeth is inserted by women just like tampons. Lined inside the device are rows of jagged teeth-like hooks that latch on to a man’s penis upon penetration. As outlined by Dr. Ehlers, only a doctor can remove it once the system is tightly hooked on. She is hoping it will help reduce the number of sex crimes in the nation.
“It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it’s on,” Ehlers said. “If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter… however, it doesn’t break the skin, and there’s no danger of fluid exposure.”
Rape-axing sexual violence
Dr. Sonnet Ehlers could be giving away 30,000 of the female condoms with teeth, Rape-aXe, free of charge. The latex system will sell for $ 2 apiece, once the trial period is over. Also a mother of two, Ehlers said she even went to various penitentiaries to speak to convicted rapists to find out whether the teeth-gripping device would have made them reassess their actions. Various of them said it surely would have.
Additional reading
CNN
cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/06/20/south.africa.female.condom/index.html
