Women’s Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa commends Taradale woman

The Women’s Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa congratulates the young woman who successfully fought off an attacker in Napier last week. “We are impressed by this woman’s courage” said Network spokeswoman Alison Broad. “We commend her bravery in the face of the attacker’s demands for sexual acts, and her clarity in recognising a moment of opportunity to fight back. She obviously did this powerfully and with considerable effectiveness so that the assault ended with the attacker fleeing the scene”.

The Women’s Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa and Girls’ Self Defence Project teach self defence to thousands of girls and women each year, including hundreds of girls annually in Hawkes Bay.

“It is always disturbing to hear of any attacks on girls and women, but it is heartening when an attack is so effectively thwarted. We commend the woman subjected to this appalling attack for her courageous actions. It seems she put into practice the key responses we would recommend for any woman or girl who is attacked”.

These are
Do everything you can to fight off an attacker, using:
your mind to assess your options and muster your determination
your voice to tell him to stop and to alert others to what is happening
and your body, using what is free on your body to fight back.

Report the attack to the police
Give as clear as possible a description of the attacker
Remember that the attack is absolutely not your fault. The responsibility for any attack belongs entirely to the attacker.

The Women’s Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa endorses the woman’s advice to ‘stick together.’ “Our courses include discussing ways that friends can help keep each other safe”.

“We strongly believe in the importance of women and girls in our communities being taught how to keep safe from violence and abuse, while emphasising that the responsibility for any attack lies fully with the attacker” said Ms Broad.

ENDS

© Scoop Media