Trigger warning: Descriptions of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.
Every 92 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. That statistic should bring all of us to a screeching halt, and not only those of us who have experienced sexual assault. If it’s not enough to at least cause you to pause, consider this: Only five of every 1,000 perpetrators of sexual assault go to prison.
If you’re a survivor of sexual assault or are familiar with someone who is, knowing how to find reputable resources is critical. In fact, identifying ways to prevent sexual assault and the proper steps to take after an attack are some of the vital things anyone who wants to take a greater stand in helping victims of sexual assault should know.
Here is some essential information about sexual assault in the United States, as well as the best resources you can seek out.
Scary Statistics
Anyone can become a victim of sexual assault. Every year:
- More than 300,000 people over the age of 12 are sexually assaulted or raped.
- An estimated 60,000 children are victims of substantiated or indicated sexual abuse.
- More than 80,000 inmates are sexually assaulted or raped.
- Almost 19,000 people in the military experience unwanted sexual contact.
You don’t have to be away from home to fall victim to sexual assault. More than half of all sexual assaults happen at or near the victim’s house, and 15% occur in a public location. Another 8% happen on school property.
What more, after an assault, victims have to face the scary truth of there being a lack of forensic nurses that can help them after an attack. Not only does this lack of nurses mean victims are more likely to have to wait to be tested for diseases, but it makes it more difficult to obtain samples to put the perpetrator in prison.
Hopefully, these numbers help you see that sexual assault is a social issue in our society that can affect any demographic at any place. Clearly, we need to place more emphasis on preventing sexual assault to create meaningful change. People need to know prevention strategies and who to turn to if it happens to them.
Survivors’ Rights
If you or a loved one is a victim of sexual assault, you have rights. Many perpetrators of this crime aren’t ever tried in a court of law or sentenced to serve time in prison, causing countless survivors to turn to civil courts to pursue justice for the physical and emotional scars they’ve endured. You may also be entitled to awards if the sexual abuse caused you to lose your financial stability or career.
The best thing you can do for yourself or a loved one who has experienced sexual trauma is to find an experienced lawyer who can help you navigate the system.
Best Resources to End Sexual Abuse
If you’re looking for resources to bring awareness to the issue or help yourself or someone else after a sexual assault, we’ve rounded up some of the best organizations around that can help.
Take Back the Night
The Take Back the Night Foundation began after Katie Koestner came forward to discuss her experience publicly as a victim of a campus date rate in 2001. Since then, this organization has held over 300 events in the last decade. It continues to grow today with events like “Bike for the Night” or “Yoga for Healing.” These events raise money to help end sexual violence in all forms and support survivors.
You can get involved with Take Back the Night by joining the movement or holding an event. You might also want to become a volunteer or even consider becoming a speaker to share your story of sexual abuse and assault.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, commonly called RAINN, operates the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. The hotline is open around the clock to help victims get connected to a sexual assault service provider for help. When you call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), you’ll be connected with an organization near your hometown so that you can find support where you are.
The hotline also offers assistance in finding a sexual assault forensic exam location and qualified professionals who can help you talk about what happened. You can get resources of people who can help you with long-term support so that you’re never going through any part of the process alone.
End Rape on Campus
If you’re looking for an advocacy group with the mission to end campus sexual violence through support and education, you’ll want to connect with End Rape on Campus. This organization works on policy reform and envisions the place where every individual can pursue higher education free from violence. You can get involved in various ways through activism and learning more about your rights under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in any education program that receives federal funding.
FORGE
Founded in 1994, FORGE works to end violence against transgender individuals. They are the only organization focused on sexual assaults that happen to people in the transgender community. They work to educate the community about violence against transgender individuals, and they provide support to survivors of these crimes. They offer webinars, workshops, and other training you can attend to learn more about their mission and help end violence towards transgender people.
Coming Together
Raising awareness of sexual assault is the only way to create change. Many survivors have broken their silence with the #MeToo movement, but we still have further to go. These resources enable advocates and survivors to come together for a common cause: to ensure that the issue of sexual abuse becomes one of the past. Use these resources to get the assistance you need for yourself and others.
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