Hong Kong's fourth annual SlutWalk stands against sexual violence
Hong Kong's streets might still be occupied by pro-democracy students, but another group of protesters will march today under the slogan "my body, my choice".
Hong Kong's streets might still be occupied by pro-democracy students, but another group of protesters will march today under the slogan "my body, my choice".
Organisers of the fourth annual SlutWalk - the local edition of an international event designed to raise awareness of "sexual, gender and body-based" violence - expect about 200 to 300 people to take part. Among the issues the walk will highlight are the abuse of domestic helpers and reports of sexual assaults on Occupy Central protesters.
The march begins in Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, at 2.30pm and will end outside police headquarters in Wan Chai.
The marchers will also stop in front of the agency that recruited Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, an Indonesian maid whose former employer will stand trial shortly accused of abusing her.
"We want to fight for a friendlier environment for the people who have experienced some type of abuse, and also to alert Hong Kong people for these issues," said social worker Listening Lee, a march organiser.
Reports of sexual abuse by anti-Occupy campaigners - including incidents caught on camera - have put the issues that the SlutWalk stands against firmly in focus.
"It's unbelievable and unacceptable. We are very concerned about sexual violence being used to dissuade protesters from coming out," Lee said. "We want them [the victims] to know that they are not alone."
Jue Sun, a researcher in gender and sexuality at Baptist University, said: "Women defended not only democracy for Hong Kong but also equal civic participation without fear. This is one often-overlooked yet very crucial feature of democracy.
"Their bodies too became a site of resistance against gender-based violence that is used to silence women's voices in social movements."
Despite Hong Kong's reputation as one of Asia's safest cities, gender-based violence happens on a daily basis, noted Sun, a regular participant in the SlutWalk.
"It requires so much courage and knowledge on the part of the victims to seek help, report crime and voice out," she said.
Statistics for the year to July show police recorded 667 cases of indecent assault in Hong Kong, 208 fewer than in the same period last year.
"To eliminate gender-based violence takes a lot of time and effort - not only advocacy on gender equality but also law enforcement," Sun said.
Brenda Alegre, a transgender woman who teaches gender and sexual diversity as an associate professor at the University ofHong Kong, agreed.
“We want the Hong Kong government to pay attention to equal rights, allowing women to broadly participate and ensuring that the different groups’ rights are truly protected,” said Alegre, a supporter of SlutWalk.
“Hong Kong society is still very conservative … The degree of awareness for these type of issues remains very low.”
The SlutWalk movement kicked off in Canada in 2011 after a police officer suggested that “women should avoid dressing like sluts” to avoid unwanted sexual attention. The first Hong Kong edition took place in December the same year.
