16Days- Rape & Sexual Violence

Rape and Sexual Violence

Rape and sexual violence is a significantly under reported crime. Sexual violence can take many forms from flashing to rape. Women are far more vulnerable than men to being raped. The power and choice to rape or sexually assault does not lie with the victim, responsibility for the act remains with the perpetrator. It is a popular myth that women are somehow complicit if they have experienced rape or sexual assault, particularly if they have been drinking alcohol, wearing 'provocative' clothing or if they did not fight to within an inch of their lives to prevent the rape. These myths serve to further silence women and act as barriers for women reporting rape to the police for fear of being judged.

In 2007-8 there were 347 reported Rapes and Sexual Assaults in Glasgow (Glasgow Community Safety Partnership, 2009)

Based on British Crime Survey Data it is estimated that only 1 in 7 rapes are reported to the police (Glasgow Community Safety Partnership, 2009)

It is estimated that 59% of young women and 27% of young men have experienced at least one sexually intrusive incident before the age of 18 (Kelly, L et al, 1991)

In Scotland, only 2.9% of rapes recorded by the police currently lead to a conviction (Rape Crisis Scotland)

24% think a woman can be partly responsible if she is drunk at the time of the attack (Scottish Executive survey Feb 2008)

34% of people thought a woman was fully or partially responsible for being raped if she behaved in a flirtatious manner (Amnesty International, 2005)

The British Crime Survey of 2000 reported that 1 in 10 women have experienced sexual victimisation including rape, with nearly half of those raped by their current "partners". Only 8% of rapists were "strangers".

An estimated 50% of women seeking asylum in the UK are rape survivors (Uncovering Women's Inequality in the UK: Statistics, Women's Resource Centre, April 2007)

Most women in the UK do not have access to a Rape Crisis Centre (Map of Gaps)