Sexual Assault
Silence no more.
1 in 5
women has been raped and almost half of women have experienced another type of sexual assault.
63%
of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Rape is the most under-reported crime.
91%
of the victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and 9% are male.
Only 12%
of child sexual abuse is reported to the authorities
More than 90%
of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault
85% of women & 35% of men
report significant short-term or long-term impacts such as Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
*National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2015
Garden of Hope has served over 500 sexual assault survivors since its inception. Among the women we’ve met, more than four fifth of them were assaulted by someone they knew. As for our human trafficking clients, most of them were sexually exploited at their workplace by force or coercion.
Unfortunately, this issue has been seriously underreported and overlooked due to many traditional misconceptions such as:
- Wives should satisfy their husband’s demands. Even at times when wives are not respected, there is no such thing as marital rape.
- Women who encounter dating violence just have poor judgement or are careless.
- Women who are sexually exploited willingly let others do so, even if they are forced, it is their own fault.
While reaching out sexual assaults survivors, GOH counselors find cultural perceptions towards sex issues serve major dissuasive factors in terms of seeking help.
In Asian culture, sex is often a shameful topic and many women do not know how to express their experiences.
For those who do seek help, they have to face multiple investigations and go through many hardships when evidence is collected. Victims often feel painful and helpless.
Despite the difficulty to obtain justice, GOH counselors still put in much effort to assist victims in reporting their case, advocating at court, healing through self-care support group and empowering them to gain resilience with long-term individual trauma therapy. We accompany victims go through the long dark nights.
Knowing the importance to reach out more sexual assaults survivors among immigrant communities, our counselors see the significance of public education and outreach in hope to raise more awareness of sexual assault and encourage potential victims to take initiative step to speak for themselves.
Therefore, GOH staff and volunteers relentlessly build connections with community members, hospitals and schools and spread the message that sex without love, clear consent and respect is considered as an assault. Anyone could have biases, thus clarification is needed to stop victim blaming. Instead, understanding and support should be given to victims on their road to recovery so they can be encouraged and protected.
Raising awareness is the fundamental step to start helping yourself and people you care. Below is critical information about domestic violence s which you should know and spread the knowledge to make impact on your community.
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. It includes rape and attempted rape, child molestation, incest, non-consensual kissing and fondling.
Sexual assault is not about sex. It is about power and control over another person.
Sexual assault can happen to women or men at any age.
Sexual assault is a crime, regardless of whether the person committing it is a stranger, a date, an acquaintance, or a family member.
No matter how it happened, sexual assault is frightening and traumatizing. People who have been sexually assaulted need care, comfort, and a way to heal.
Get Help
Victims should make every effort to save anything that might contain the perpetrator’s DNA.
Therefore, a victim should not:
- Take bath or shower, use the restroom, change clothes, comb hair, clean up the crime scene, and move anything the offender may have touched.
- Even if the victim has not yet decided to report the crime, receiving a forensic medical exam and keeping the evidence safe from damage will improve the chances that the police can access and test the stored evidence at a later date.
Know Your Rights!
- You have the right to determine whether or not you want to report the assault to Law Enforcement.
- You have the right to have an advocate present at the hospital exam and at any interview by Law Enforcement, the District Attorney or Defense Attorney.
- You have the right to be treated in a considerate and sensitive manner by Law Enforcement, medical personnel, advocates, and prosecution personnel.
- You have the right not to be subjected to any type of discrimination because of your gender, race, age, class, religion, occupation or sexual orientation.
Help Your Loved One
There are many ways that you can help a friend or family member who has been a victim of sexual assault:
- Be there. Don’t be judgmental.
- Be patient. Remember, it will take your loved one some time to deal with the crime.
- Help to empower your loved one. Rape and sexual violence are crimes that take away an individual’s power. It is important not to compound this experience by putting pressure on your loved one to do things that he or she is not ready to do yet.
- If your loved one is considering suicide, follow-up with them on a regular basis.
- Encourage your loved one to report the rape or sexual violence to law enforcement.
