Shine OnScottish anti-rape campaign is a refreshing change
Scottish police have launched a refreshing anti-rape campaign that seeks to educate men on what constitutes consensual sex.
Unlike many other anti-rape campaigns that focus on women protecting themselves, the "We Can Stop It" month-long campaign encourages men to make responsible and respectful choices.
"I hope this campaign encourages men to think about their behaviour and through that help reduce offending," police officer Malcolm Graham tells BBC.
Many of the ad's taglines address circumstances that would constitute sexual assault and seek to highlight when a woman is fully capable of saying "yes" to sex.
Read below for a few taglines:
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't have sex with a girl when she is drunk. Are you?"
"I know when she's asleep it's a NO. Do you?"
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't pressurize his girlfriend to have sex. Do you?"
It also addresses the fact that gay men can be victims of rape.
"I listen when a guy says no. Do you?"
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The campaign -- which features posters, radio adverts and social media initiatives -- aims to educate men about changes to Scotland's sexual offense laws that occurred in 2010. These new laws changed the definition of consent to include cases where the victim is incapable of agreeing to sex due to intoxication from drinking or drugs.
"We think it is particularly important that the campaign involves men challenging other men in a positive way to make sure that their partner consents to sexual activity and commend Police Scotland for taking this approach," says Lily Greenan, a manager for Women's Aid, one of the groups supporting the campaign.
Statistical evidence suggests anti-rape campaigns that focus on men's behaviour result in lower incidents of sexual assault.
A 2011 campaign in Vancouver called "Don't Be That Guy" resulted in a 10 per cent drop in sexual offenses that year.
What are your thoughts on the new anti-rape campaign? How effective do you think it is? Tell us in the comments below.
