This paper describes the experiences of an activist group in Karachi (Pakistan) in raising awareness of sexual crimes against women, pursuant to a rape of a professional woman which occurred during an armed robbery. It describes how, since rape was regarded as rare or nonexistent in a conservative, Islamic society, the efforts of the Women's Action Forum (WAF) to notify top government officials about their concern that women were being raped during armed robberies were largely in vain. WAF's formation of a subcommittee called War Against Rape (WAR), which broke new ground as a consciousness-raising group tackling a difficult and taboo subject, is reviewed. The 12-point statement of WAR's objectives is included, and the accomplishments of WAR in breaking the silence over rape and disseminating information are discussed, along with the problems it has faced in reaching or empowering the victims. Five brief case histories are included to illustrate these problems. The paper concludes that rape is a manifestation of the exploitation and oppression which pervades Pakistani society at large and that WAR's accomplishments thus far are only a beginning. (TE)