Recently, a show revealing sexual assault on Australian campuses has attracted widespread public attention. Data released by the Australian Human Rights Commission last year show that about 7000 international students receive sexual harassment. In Australia each yea
A Chinese student, Xiao Liu (Leu,), also one of the victims, chose to stand up bravely and tell her story in front of the camera.
Like thousands of overseas students in Australia, Xiao Liu chose to study here, hoping to receive a world-class education and feel a leisurely Australian culture. But when she traveled all the way from her family to study at the prestigious Australian National University, the huge cultural differences made her feel a strong shock.
(photo source: documentary)
At the beginning of the interview, Xiao Liu said: "I am studying biotechnology and liberal arts, majoring in biology and sociology." I think (Australian) is, white skin, everyone is very tall, and then. barbecue? It`s really different. People are partying and drinking. Especially the drinking part. Oh, my God, for me, for a person from Chinese culture, the way parties are held here, the way friends get along with them is completely different. "
Victim Xiao Liu (Photo: Al Jazeera)
"I left my things in my bedroom, so I decided to go back and get them. The man (roommate`s friend) tried to come in. He wanted to sit in the bedroom and have a drink or something. Then he went straight to bed. "
"I said, hey, what are you doing, trying to pull him out of bed, that`s how it started. I was stuck in bed, rape, and the guy kept saying,`I`ll get what I want`. I tried to cry for help, but I couldn`t cry, I couldn`t move, I had to scream, and when he covered my mouth, I couldn`t scream. "
Asked what nationality the man was, Liu replied, "he`s from Canberra, Australia. They like it." Fight for. You know, they like male chauvinism, especially young men. "
Other students told Xiao Liu not to tell the police about it. "at that time we thought Australian law only protected Australians, and if we reported such things, they might think that we were in trouble, that we would be deported and that we would not be able to complete our studies."
"it is a disgrace to us. If I could hide it, I would never tell my parents about it. I certainly didn`t want to scare them. After all, I spent so much money on my parents, went to school so far, and then was rape. It is a very disgraceful thing. "
After the incident, Xiao Liu changed a bedroom. But she still wakes up by nightmares at midnight and sees rape`s own man walking down the street. "nightmares are terrible. You can`t stop having nightmares. Life is normal during the day, but at night, nightmares begin as soon as you fall asleep. "
Eventually, Xiao Liu chose to inform the police of the matter. "the policewoman tried to comfort me. She said, `Don`t worry, it`s definitely not your fault, but be careful next time. Should I be careful next time? So what`s next time? What do you mean,`be careful`? "
"I hope I got the right advice at that time to learn more about what foreign students should do. It`s unacceptable. It`s a big problem. "
For Australian university public relations department, Xiao Liu`s encounter is very serious negative news. At present, five hundred thousand students are studying in Australian universities. This also makes Australian higher education the third largest export industry, generating an annual economic benefit of 18 billion Australian dollars.
The Australian Federation of students, (NUS), and Australia`s International Student Council, (CISA), said they were angry at the revelations in the documentary. "because of cultural differences," said Forough Ataollahi, a woman member of Cisa, in a statement. Isolation and lack of understanding of the rights enshrined in Australian law make students more vulnerable to sexual violence. "
(photo source: documentary)
"these students are afraid to report sexual violence, fear that they will be blamed for being sexually assaulted, or think they will be cancelled," Ataollahi said.
NUS president added: "the school has not taken meaningful action to prevent the sexual invasion case on campus. The A $40 fine will not stop students from rape and their classmates."
