Things you need to know about unreported sexual attacks
The term sexual assault, a kind of sexual violence, applies to a wide range of unwanted and forced sexual activity. These activities include sexual touching or unwanted fondling, attempted rape, forcing somebody into non-consensual sexual acts, and more.
Sexual attacks have become a far too common problem across the globe today. While these activities can take a huge toll on the victim’s mental and physical health, unreported sexual attacks can pose a serious threat to society as well.
Sexual assault statistics are generated from two major sources: cases reported to the law and victimization surveys. But when the incidents go unreported, what can be done by the criminal justice systems?
An analysis of ‘violent crime in 2016’ done by a Justice Department revealed that almost 80 percent of sexual assaults and rapes go unreported. It’s very common for sexual attack survivors, most frequently women, to decline to report the incident to police. It may sound unbelievable, but the truth is that only about 23 percent of survivors report these crimes to police.
There’re several reasons behind survivors not reporting the incidents to the police. Most common ones include worrying about retaliation, distortion of allegations, fear of revictimization, fear of not being believed, fear of the impact on the family as well as community, among others. Survivors may be accused of fabrication and lies. Rape stereotypes and myths can be invoked. Detailed questioning can recreate the terror and powerlessness of the actual assault.
Given these statistics, everyone should be doing everything in his/her power to eliminate structural and societal barriers to lessen the number of unreported sexual attacks.
Call to action:
According to you, what can be done to lessen the number of unreported sexual attacks? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the communication further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To have some interesting reads, be sure to check out my books.
References:
McCarthy-Jones, Simon. “Survivors of sexual violence are let down by the criminal justice system – here’s what should happen next.” THE CONVERSATION, March 29, 2018. https://theconversation.com/survivors-of-sexual-violence-are-let-down-by-the-criminal-justice-system-heres-what-should-happen-next-94138
Kimble Cameron, Chettiar M. Inimai. “Sexual Assault Remains Dramatically Underreported.” BRENNAN CENTER, October 4, 2018. https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/sexual-assault-remains-dramatically-underreported
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