Defense · Dignity · Justice

How It Works

Science-backed.
Silently powerful.

Rape-Axe is a wearable internal device that requires no strength, no warning, and no co-operation from the attacker. Here is exactly how it works - and why it works.

Design principle Passive

Rape-Axe activates automatically - no button, no trigger, no decision required in a moment of crisis.

Evidence retained 100%

The device traps the attacker and retains forensic DNA evidence, removing doubt from prosecution.

Medical removal Required

The device can only be removed by a medical professional - meaning the attacker is led directly to law enforcement.

Step by step 5 stages
01

Before

She wears it.
Nobody knows.

Rape-Axe is worn internally, like a tampon. It is completely invisible from the outside and causes no discomfort during normal movement. The wearer goes about her day with no indication to anyone that she is defended.

It is designed for use in high-risk situations - travel, nightlife, conflict zones, or any context where a woman feels vulnerable.

02

During

Penetration triggers
the mechanism.

The moment penetration occurs, rows of inward-facing barbs - made from surgical-grade material - engage and attach to the attacker. The mechanism is entirely passive: no thought, no action, no strength required from the wearer.

The sensation is described as excruciating for the attacker. The attack stops immediately.

03

Immobilisation

He cannot remove it.
He cannot run.

The barbs grip tighter if the attacker attempts to pull away. Urination becomes impossible, and movement causes intense pain. This does not injure the wearer - the device is designed to affect only the attacker.

The attacker is effectively immobilised. Bystanders can summon help. The perpetrator cannot flee.

04

Evidence

DNA evidence is
preserved in place.

While attached, the device collects and retains DNA evidence directly from the attacker. This evidence is preserved in an unbroken chain of custody - secured inside the device, ready for forensic analysis.

For survivors who have historically faced disbelief or inadequate evidence collection, this is transformative. The perpetrator's DNA is already packaged.

05

Justice

Only medical staff
can remove it.

The device cannot be removed by the attacker alone. Medical intervention is required - and any hospital visit creates a forensic and administrative record that connects the perpetrator to the crime.

He cannot remove it in private. He cannot explain it away. He is walked directly into the justice system - by his own actions.

Medical design

Built to medical
grade standards.

Rape-Axe was designed by Sonette Bryant, drawing on decades of experience treating survivors of sexual violence. The device is not a weapon. It is a medical apparatus engineered with precision and clinical care.

It does not cause permanent harm to the attacker. It causes pain, immobilisation, and an irrefutable link to a crime scene. That is precisely what it is designed to do.

The materials used are body-safe and medically approved. It can be worn for extended periods with no adverse effects for the wearer.

Material Medical-grade latex and surgical barbs
Insertion Tampon-style applicator, worn internally
Activation Passive - no action required by wearer
Removal Medical professional only
Evidence DNA retained in situ, forensically viable
Harm to wearer None - device does not harm the wearer
Inventor Sonette Bryant
Status Internationally patented

Common questions.

Honest answers about how Rape-Axe works, its limitations, and its purpose.

Using the Device 11 questions
No. R@pe-aXe is a single-use device and should not be reused.
R@pe-aXe can be worn for up to 8 hours.
R@pe-aXe comes assembled in a single-use applicator and is inserted much like a tampon. Removal is simply accomplished using the removal device provided with each unit.
No. It is inserted by the woman wearing the device, allowing freedom, privacy, and comfort.
Yes. The protective barrier on the device does not absorb liquids and will repel body fluids. R@pe-aXe cannot be used at the same time as a tampon - it should be used with an external sanitary pad.
Yes. Comfort for the woman was a primary concern in the design. The outside is smooth and cushioned. Once in place, it is not uncomfortable for the wearer - it has been described as feeling "no different than when I use a tampon."
All reasonable attempts should be made by a woman to avoid placing herself in a dangerous situation. As there is no way to predict the occurrence of an assault, women should take the reasonable precaution of inserting R@pe-aXe before she may be in a dangerous situation, and remove it only once she feels she is in a safe and secure environment.
We recommend keeping the applicator/removal device in a visible location, to serve as a reminder.
Yes. Feedback from women indicated a preference for boxes of 10 and 30 units.
It will be available online, via distributors, and in pharmacies.
We are seeking support from charitable organisations, NGOs, and others interested in subsidising purchase and distribution for women who cannot afford it. Please contact us at info@rapeaxe.org.za for more information.
Safety and Health 4 questions
No. All materials are hypoallergenic and have undergone biocompatibility testing.
Unlike tampons, R@pe-aXe is not made of absorbent material - absorbency is the main risk factor associated with TSS. The protective barrier repels the woman's body fluids, further reducing any chance of toxic shock syndrome.
No. In addition to the cervix being too small, the walls of the vaginal canal will hold R@pe-aXe in place until you decide it is time to remove it.
No. A woman is a virgin until she has sexual intercourse. The same logic that applies to tampon use applies here: using R@pe-aXe does not constitute intercourse. She will not be a virgin if she is r@ped.
How It Works Against an Assailant 7 questions
No. The design of R@pe-aXe makes this impossible.
No. The barbs are only on the interior of the device. A protective barrier prevents any contact between the barbs and the woman wearing the device.
R@pe-aXe was designed to adjust to a wide range of penis diameters, including a penis that is small or flaccid. The outer sheath is elastic and can stretch to accommodate larger diameters as well. The hard, pointed barbs project into the inner cavity of the device, penetrating the shaft of the penis even if it is flaccid. The barbs point inward, allowing the penis to enter without obstruction but digging in when the penis tries to withdraw - the harder the attempt to pull free, the deeper the barbs dig in and the more painful it becomes (think "Chinese finger trap"). The outer sheath also acts like a compression stocking, keeping the barbs in contact with the penis at all times, whether erect, flaccid, or small. In short: no, it will not come off a small or flaccid penis.
Embedded in the elastic protective sheath is a web of hard plastic material containing the barbs. The sheath itself is thin but durable - the internal webbing (now made of hard internal ribs) is very difficult to cut. It would be very difficult and risky for an untrained assailant to attempt removal with scissors or a pocket knife, with a high risk of cutting himself or causing permanent, serious injury. He will also be in severe, debilitating pain, which limits the fine motor control needed to operate on himself. For this reason, we strongly recommend the device only be removed by a qualified clinician. Should the assailant attempt removal himself regardless, this provides the woman ample time to escape or fight back, as she chooses.
No. Due to the severe pain inflicted by the device, the assailant will have difficulty performing simple tasks like walking, let alone the delicate, skilled motions required to remove the device without injuring himself.
No. The entire device is contained within the vaginal canal - positioned behind the labia - and is not visible externally, including to the assailant.
No. When the assailant withdraws, R@pe-aXe will be firmly attached to him by the barbs and withdrawn from the woman along with him.
Legal Questions 4 questions
The laws of each country need to be examined on a case-by-case basis. However, according to the legal guidance we have received, there is no legal ground for preventing the use of R@pe-aXe.
No - no more than he would have the right to charge her for kicking him in the groin or clawing his eyes in self-defence. As R@pe-aXe causes no long-term or lasting injury to the assailant, there is no legal basis to prevent its use or to justify a bodily harm claim.
A woman does not need R@pe-aXe to frame anyone - today, she can make a false claim of assault without it. R@pe-aXe does not change this situation one way or the other.
At the hospital, where the device is removed from the assailant, it is swabbed for DNA following normal hospital procedure. DNA is then stored as evidence as needed.
Research and Outcomes 3 questions
Yes - extensive interviews have been conducted in South African prisons with convicted r@pists, covering their motivations and their reactions to R@pe-aXe.
Responses from convicted r@pists who have seen the device: "R@pe is difficult to prove, police don't treat it as a serious crime, and it's likely I won't be caught or convicted at all - and if I am, the punishment is light. If I was 'tagged' by R@pe-aXe, facing incarceration, I would not escalate the crime with additional assault or murder charges." Separately, FBI interviews with r@pe victims found that 9 in 10 felt they fared better by resisting and fighting back than by submitting.
A prisoner's response: "Once the leader - the first r@pist - is caught by R@pe-aXe, the others will be too scared to act or harm the woman further, since the leader will be convicted of the crime and they would be convicted alongside him if they also acted."

Take action

Every woman deserves the right to defend herself.

Help us get Rape-Axe into the hands of every woman who needs it. Whether you donate, partner, or spread the word - it matters.

Donate now Partner with us