Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) refers to Mr Jeffrey's letter, "'Aye' to the judge and ladies of the night" (Oct 30), regarding our comment to The Sun newspaper (Oct 27). In order to clarify our position, we have attached with this letter our comment in full which we sent to the newspaper. As evident, nowhere in the comment mentioned or alluded that WAO believes prostitution to be "immoral" or treats prostitutes as "moral lepers". WAO's position is that sex work should be decriminalised.

[Comment to The Sun, sent Oct 26, 2001]

"Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) regrets Justice Datuk James Foong' remark, "If you want to satisfy your sexual urge or desire, then go to the prostitute", said to the convicted rapist. This in effect reinforces the notion that men has the right to act upon and fulfill their sexual urges, rather than to exercise his ability of self-control.

"In addition, rape is not a crime that is caused by uncontrollable sexual urges. Rape is a chosen act, done in a chosen place, to a chosen victim. It is not a spontaneous act resulted from a sudden lack of self control. In fact, it is an insult to all men when this is brought forward as a reason for rape.

"The harsher sentence passed on the rapist certainly reflects the severity of the crime. However, harsher sentencing may not necessarily work as a deterrent, and may in fact work to the disadvantage of victims when judges become overtly cautious in convictions because of the severity of the punishments.

"More importantly, the whole nation has to take up the challenge in taking preventive measures toward eliminating this abhorrent crime. Rapists are largely men who choose this form of violence against women. We start with educating boys and men that real men do not abuse and they can choose to respect women, and thereby choose to act and behave in a non-violent manner towards women.

"Men themselves should start taking up this challenge as the question remains that should be asked from now is not what women should do to protect themselves from rape, but what men should do to stop rape. - Ivy Josiah, Executive Director"