Rape & Sexual Assault
This page is dedicated to valuable resources, studies, research projects, survey reports, and articles on the subject of rape and sexual assault. I plan to add more content in the future, but I hope that even at this early stage, it will provide you with new information, help you better support yourself or others, and offer a greater understanding of this critical aspect of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
“Policing Rape – The Way Forward.” Book by Katrin Hohl and Elizabeth A. Stanko, 2024
The policing of rape is in permacrisis. This book addresses the question of why police investigations continue to fail most rape victim-survivors and puts forward a framework for what policing can do to change this. Low conviction rates and poor victim-survivor experiences are the hallmarks of the rape justice gap. Three decades of research, policy, and legal changes have tweaked rape investigations to alleviate some of their ills; however, for most victim-survivors, the process remains gruelling. Police forces are notoriously resistant to reform, even in the face of rapidly declining public trust. The starting point of this book is the recognition that if we want profound change in policing, we must try something new. To do so, the authors move from asking “What is it about rape that makes it so difficult for police to investigate it well?” to asking “What is it about the police that makes it so difficult for police to investigate rape well?”. Policing Rape sets out a practice-oriented theoretical framework for radically and sustainably transforming rape investigations, rape prevention, and the quality of officer engagement with victim-survivors. The authors reflect on the journey of putting this framework into practice within Operation Soteria Bluestone as a step on the path towards a radical transformation of rape policing. This book is essential reading for all those looking to understand and improve the policing of rape.
Members of the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted the EU directive on combatting violence against women, after two years of intense negotiations with member states. The directive was adopted by a large majority of 522 votes, 27 against, and 72 abstentions. It aims to deal with sexist cyber harassment, genital mutilation, and forced marriages, to provide better assistance to victims.
“Government’s “End-to-End” Rape Review – Two Years On”, a report by Centre for Women’s Justice, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Imkaan and Rape Crisis England and Wales, 2023
Since the publication of the Rape Review in June 2021, multiple reports, inspections, and inquiries have been published seeking to address how rape is investigated and prosecuted. We have also seen the mass exposure of police-perpetrated abuse, and further revelations about the scale of misogyny, sexism, racism, homophobia and ableism within policing, as illustrated by the Casey Review earlier this year. The findings expose the underbelly of policing and the extent to which the police are failing in their duties to women and girls every day, with numerous recommendations highlighting the need for wide-ranging changes. Tackling this issue requires long-term and dedicated work, and we need to be realistic in our expectations: there are no quick fixes. Systemic transformation requires ongoing and renewed commitment from officers, prosecutors, government and senior leaders in the criminal justice system (CJS).
“Sexual assault: women’s voices on the health impacts of not being believed by police,” by Karen McQueen, Jodie Murphy-Oikonen, Ainsley Miller, and Lori Chambers, 2021
Sexual assault is a prevalent crime against women globally with known negative effects on health. Recent media reports in Canada indicate that many sexual assault reports are not believed by police. Negative reporting experiences of sexual assault have been associated with secondary victimization and trauma among survivors. However, little is known about the impact that being sexually assaulted and not believed by police has on a survivor’s health and well-being. The purpose of this very interesting and though provoking study was to explore women’s experiences of not being believed by police after sexual assault and their perceived impact on health.
“The Needs of Women Survivors of Rape: A Narrative Review,” by Leila Asadi, Mahnaz Noroozi, Fadin Mardani, Hajar Salimi, and Sara Jambarsang, 2023
Rape is a serious global problem linked to long-term physical health complications in women. Women survivors of rape have different needs, the identification of which ensures optimal services and improves their health conditions. This study aimed to explore the needs of women survivors of rape through a narrative review.
“Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture–and What We Can Do about It.” Book by Kate Harding, 2015
Every seven minutes, someone in America commits a rape. And whether that’s a football star, beloved celebrity, elected official, member of the clergy, or just an average Joe (or Joanna), there’s probably a community eager to make excuses for that person. In Asking for It, Kate Harding combines in-depth research with a frank, no-holds-barred voice to make the case that twenty-first-century America supports rapists more effectively than it supports victims. From institutional failures in higher education to real-world examples of rape culture, Harding offers ideas and suggestions for how we, as a society, can take sexual violence much more seriously without compromising the rights of the accused.
“Rape Trauma: A Study of Preferred Rape Disclosure Methods and Factors Influencing Psychological Outcomes in Rape Victims,” by Carrie M. Carretta
The intent of this research was to explore, via an anonymous web-based survey, differences in rape trauma presentation related to 1) types of rape (forcible rape, pressured sex, sex stress); 2) perpetrator/victim relationship (intimate partner, non-intimate known, and stranger), and 3) potential protective factors (hope, coping and perceived control). These were examined as they relate to the type of rape, perpetrator type, and rape trauma.
“The study to identify and map existing data and resources on sexual violence against women in the EU,” by Colette De Troy, Andrea Matolcsi and Rada Borić. Professor Elizabeth Kelly provided technical expertise. 2011
Sexual violence against women continues to be one of the most brutal forms and undisclosed of gender-based violence. ‘The European Parliament resolution of 26 November 2009 on the elimination of violence against women’ and ‘the Council of the European Union’s conclusions of 8 March 2010 on the eradication of violence against women in the European Union’ highlight an evident lack of available and systematically collected data on sexual violence. Women who have experienced sexual violence still face secondary victimisation in their contacts with the police, prosecutors, judiciary and healthcare institutions because of, among other things, the lack of intervention protocols and training on sexual violence for professionals. EIGE (European Institute for gender Equality) undertook the first EU-wide study on sexual violence to provide policymakers and experts with reliable information, data and resources which will help them to combat and prevent sexual violence more effectively. The study was commissioned by EIGE and was carried out by the European Women’s Lobby in 2011.
“Definitions of rape in the legislation of EU Member States,” EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service, 2024.
The introduction of common European Union (EU) standards for the definition of the crime of rape has become one of the major points of contention between the European Parliament and the Council in the ongoing negotiations on the proposal for a directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Disagreement focuses mainly on the existence of a legal basis in the Treaties providing the EU with the power to impose such a definition. However, the Parliament’s insistence on maintaining rape in the directive warrants more extensive analysis as to why this is necessary.
“NEVER A VICTIM – The Definitive Guide to Women’s Safety,” written by Robert Kaiser, 2024.
NEVER A VICTIM is the result of over three decades of in-depth understanding of physical and sexual violence against women. This essential resource aims to empower you to trust your innate ability to protect yourself and stay safe. Covering 504 pages and over 110,000 words, it offers proven and reliable advice. The second part of this comprehensive book provides specific guidance on various physical and sexual crimes, including rape.