April Awareness

Serious Posting with statistics and references from other websites. Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
Submitted by darceyw on Tue, 2006-04-04 18:02. News & Events
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. During this month, many events and activities will help raise awareness about sexual assault. In America, one in six women and one in thirty-three men are victims of sexual assault. Take this time to do your part in the fight against sexual violence. On our website, we have listed several events nationwide and encourage you to support RAINN and our affiliated rape crisis centers.
We'd also like to thank the rape crisis centers across the country, their employees and volunteers and everyone who works for and supports an end to sexual assault. Your contributions and hard work make a real difference in the lives of those affected by sexual assault.****************************Statistics
Submitted by sturm on Thu, 2005-09-15 17:57.
More Than Half of Sexual Assaults Go Unreported
Rapes Still Not Being ReportedThe National Crime Victimization Survey includes statistics on reported and unreported crimes in America. Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes, with more than half still being left unreported. Utilizing services such as The National Sexual Assault Hotline can help encourage victims to get help and report what has happened to them so that more perpetrators can be brought to justice.
Young females are four times more likely than any other group to be the victims of sexual assault.
Key Facts
Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and 10% of sexual assault victims are men.
In 2003-2004, there were an average annual 204,370 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
About 44% of rape victims are under age 18, and 80% are under age 30.
Since 1993, rape/sexual assault has fallen by over 64%.
2004 StatisticsIn 2004, there were 209,880 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assaults according to the 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey (pdf). (from Pk here ... and how many does that not include because they were never reported to officials)
Of the average annual 204,370 victims in 2003-2004, about 65,510 were victims of completed rape, 43,440 were victims of attempted rape, and 95,420 were victims of sexual assault.
Because of the methodology of the National Crime Victimization Survey, these figures do not include victims 12 or younger. While there are no reliable annual surveys of sexual assaults on children, (pdf) the Justice Department has estimated that one of six victims are under age 12.
It's Not Always a Stranger Hiding in the Bushes
Contrary to the belief that rapists are hiding in the bushes or in the shadows of the parking garage, almost two-thirds of all rapes were committed by someone who is known to the victim. 67% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger – 47% of perpetrators were a friend or acquaintance of the victim, 17% were an intimate and 3% were another relative.National Crime Victimization Survey, 2004
Is the incidence of rape and sexual assault increasing or decreasing in America?Have you heard about crime declining? It is true (as best we can tell). While figures for any single year are considered somewhat unreliable because they are based on a small sample size, the more-reliable longterm trend looks extremely good. Since 1993, rape/sexual assault has fallen by more than half. Read a two page summary of major statistics (pdf).
RAINN's "two and a half minute" calculation is based on 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey (pdf) from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Here are details of the calculation.
Additional Resources
For information and resources on sexual assault, rape and drug-facilitated sexual assault, please visit 911rape.org.
For more information and statistics, visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. Helping Yourself, Helping Others (follow the link for advice on how to help yourself, or help friends) Help in Your Area Programs About Rainne