How to Meet/Interview Rape Victims in India?

[Miles]

Hi, I have this idea to shoot a documentary film exposing : The Sexualization of women in today's media, Why the Govt is not legalizing Prostitution and other social issues. I strongly believe that such things are the root cause for rapes, domestic violence and other sexual crimes. In the documentary, I have covered a lot of things but am lost in the interviews part. I would like to interview both Rape victims (in their houses) and Rapists (in penitentiaries, if possible) but just don't know where to start from. Should I contact the cops to get the Rape victims addresses and go approach them? or what?. Please help.. any suggestions/help would be really appreciated. Also, if you are an activist and would like to volunteer (online/field work) in the making of this documentary, feel free to contact me at : irenejones(at)aol(dot)in.

P.S : This documentary decision was made long back even before this media hyped Delhi Rape case. I know that in India 2 women are raped in every 2 hours and would like to do something about it, so please do your part. cheers!!

[shortcreature239]

Interviewing women about sexual violence can re-traumatize them. So the first thing you need to do is to contact organizations that help women and go through their training for volunteers, so that you fully understand sexual violence and the mental and physical trauma, as well as cultural consequences, experienced by women. This will also show that you are not wanting to be exploitative. If you don't feel you have the time to get to know such organizations and go through their training, then you aren't appropriate to do this filming.

The fact that you think prostitution not being legal is a cause of rape shows just how little you understand sexual violence and domestic violence. You have a lot of reading and learning to go through before you have the knowledge and sensitivity to talk to assault victims.