The World Cup has consumed many people’s mind – even mine but for reasons far different than others.

First I learned that during the last World Cup domestic violence incidents increased by almost a third. Luckily the West Yorkshire police department launched a program to combat this problem and avoid history from repeating itself.

Now, I’ve learned of another project that will be launched during the World Cup to combat another horrible crime against women – rape.

A South African doctor, Dr. Sonnet Ehlers, has developed a female condom with jagged rows of teeth like hooks lined inside that attach to a man’s penis during penetration. Once the condom has latched onto the perpetrator’s penis it cannot be removed without a doctor’s help. If a man tries to remove it himself it clasps on even tighter.

Ehlers plans to distribute 30,000 free Rape-aXe condoms in the various South African cities where World Cup games are taking place. After this trial period the condoms will be available for about $2 each.

Some critics have accused Ehlers of inventing a “medieval” device to fight rape but to this she responds:

“Yes, my device may be a medieval, but it’s for a medieval deed that has been around for decades. I believe something’s got to be done … and this will make some men rethink before they assault a woman.”

The reality is that South Africa has one of the highest rape rates in the world. This is a country where it is estimated that 1 in every 2 women will be raped in their lifetime. Most of these victims too live without any justice as many perpetrators are not convicted – something else Ehlers hopes to change with the new condoms.

Like other critics I also worry of the additional violence women are putting themselves at risk for if they don’t escape from the man who has attempted to rape them or the revenge he will seek out on her after the device has been removed. These are very real concerns, but women are so fearful of rape in South Africa that it has been reported that some insert razor blades wrapped in sponges inside their vaginas.

Is the Rape-aXe condom the solution? What do you think?

Photo via CNN courtesy of Dr. Sonnet Ehlers - http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/06/20/south.africa.female.condom/

