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Rape and sexual

Large-scale studies of and sexual Although rape and may be assault are scarce. Those that do exist, perpetrated by strangers, from many however, consistently report high prevalence sources indicates that a high percentage of rates. Research conducted in industrialized rapists are acquaintances, “friends”, relatives, countries has shown that the likelihood of a and those in positions of trust or power. being raped or having to fight off an Another consistent finding is the high attempted rape is high. In developing percentage of young, and often very young, countries, research suggests that rape is an rape victim (see table). Many sexual ever-present threat and reality for millions of are perpetrated by more than one attacker. women. “ rape”, where two or more men subdue and penetrate their victims, is not uncommon.

Six separate investigations suggest that Women are also subject to what has been between 14% and 20% of women in the termed “non-contact” sexual in which, United States will experience a completed for example, men expose their penises or rape at least once in her lifetime.1,2 make obscene telephone calls. Where non- contact abuse has been studied, it has been In a random sample of 420 women in discovered that a high percentage of women Toronto, Canada, 40% reported at least have experienced this type of abuse; in some one episode of forced cases up to 50% of all women questioned. since the age of 16.3

Statistics on sex crimesa

Country Attackers known Victims aged 15 Victims aged 10 to victim (%) or less (%) or less (%)

Peru (Lima) 60 - 18b Malaysia 68 58 18c Mexico (City) 67 36 23 Panama (City) 61 40 - - 47 13d Chile (Santiago) 72 58 32 United States 78 62 29

Adapted from: Heise, L. : the hidden burden. World health statistics quarterly, 1993, 46(1): 78-85. aIncludes attempted and completed rape and sexual assaults such as molestation, except for the US data which is for completed rape only. bPercentage of survivors aged nine or less. cPercentage of survivors aged six or less. dPercentage of survivors aged seven or less. Women in custody to claim protection at their embassies.

Often, women who enter prisons are already In some countries, domestic workers are not victims of violence. covered by labour . Where laws are in place, workers may not be informed of their rights, especially in countries where the host In a study of more than 300 women in language is unknown to them or they are federal prisons in Canada, 68% of all separated from their social group.7 women, and 90% of Aboriginal women reported at some time in Many women keep the violence a secret their lives.4 Women who are the victims of are often reluctant to report the Violence against women who are in custody in to , or others. In countries institutions and prisons may be widespread. where a woman’s is associated with The nature of abuse ranges from physical or family , unmarried women who report verbal to sexual and physical a rape may be forced to marry their attacker. . Various reports on women in custody Some may be murdered by their shamed have shown that women are stripped, or brothers, as a way of restoring shackled and their body cavities searched by family honour. In some countries, a woman male guards. Women from many countries who has been raped may be prosecuted and report being raped while in detention centres.5 imprisoned for committing the “crime” of sex Incarceration, intended as a time for reform outside of , if she cannot prove that from criminal activities, then becomes one the incident was in fact rape. more episode of victimization. The psychological and physical sequelae of this Some responses to the problem violence are further compounded by feelings of helplessness, and a general unavailability Women who do disclose are often of medical care and support services. advised to restrict their movements or adapt their clothing so as to avoid “tempting” men to Trafficking in women, forced attack them. This approach is inadequate because it wrongly assumes that men are Each year, thousands of women throughout unable to control their sexual impulses. It also the world are tricked, coerced, abducted or ignores the fact that many are sold into -like conditions and forced to committed in women’s own homes, frequently work as prostitutes, domestic workers, by men whom they know. sweatshop labourers or wives. Reports of involvement in international trafficking by state A review of Commonwealth government officials and police were routinely received by initiatives to combat violence against women the United Nations Special Rapporteur on has pointed to the relative paucity of violence against women during her campaigns dealing with rape and sexual investigation into this issue.6 assault, as compared, for example with wife- battering and .8 However, Violence against women domestic workers women’s groups in many countries are offering support across a range of women’s Domestic workers are vulnerable to violent issues, including rape and sexual assault, assaults, including physical abuse and rape, along with and sexual by their employers. Migrant women are abuse. especially at risk as employers may withhold salaries, passports and personal documents. • Survivor groups and rape crisis centres This limits workers’ movement in those have been set up in some countries where countries where aliens are required to carry women can work together to try and overcome proof of their legal status, thus impeding any their trauma • Special rape crisis rooms have been set up 1. Koss M, Gidyez C A, Wisniewski N, The scope of in hospitals in El Salvador and police stations rape: incidence and prevalence of sexual in the United Kingdom for victims to be and victimization in a national sample of higher education students. Journal of consulting and clinical examined and questioned in , 1987, 55.

• Woman police officers have been recruited 2. Kilpatrick DG, Edmunds CN, Seymour AK, Rape in and trained specifically to deal with victims of America: a report to the nation. Arlington, VA, The rape and in Bangladesh and National Victim Center,1992 Malaysia 3. Randall M, Haskell L. Sexual violence in women’s lives: findings from The Women’s Safety Project, a • Theatrical performances followed by community-based survey. Violence against women, discussions in school and community settings March 1995, 6-31. are exploring issues relating to rape in Jamaica 4. Shaw M. The survey of federally sentenced women, as cited in The Arbour Report, Correctional • Rape crisis telephone lines have been Services of Canada, 1996. established in many countries, providing 5. United Nations, Economic and Social Council, anonymous counselling and support for Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against victims women, its causes and consequences, 22 November 1994, E/CN.4/1995/42. • Complaints about violent sexual themes on television and radio, and in the press are 6. United Nations, Economic and Social Council, fuelling public debate on these issues in Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, 12 February Jamaica. 1997, E/CN.4/1997/47.

(See What health workers can do for ways in 7. Punishing the victim, rape and mistreatment of which health workers can help women and Asian maids in Kuwait. Middle East Watch, Women’s who are victims of violence.) Rights Project, August, 1992, 4(8).

8. Commonwealth Secretariat, Confronting Violence: A Manual for Commonwealth Action, Women and Development Programme, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, UK, 1992.

World Health Organization July 1997