it's never ok

Posted on Wed, 14 Oct 09

Research shows that 1 in 6 women will become a victim of sexual abuse in their lifetime. Within this figure, young women aged 13-17 can be the hardest to reconcile. 

Young women feel that if they disclose what has happened to them they will be harshly judged by those around them, primarily because the abuser has made them feel like they are to blame.

60% of sexual assaults on young women are not reported to the police, which is in itself reason to believe that young women feel that they should keep quiet about sexual abuse. However, reporting has increased by one-third since 1993.

This is great news, showing that young women are standing up and accepting that 'this isn’t your fault'.

These figures are due to many empowering community programs helping young women to talk openly about sexual assault. If we don’t encourage young women in our community who have been victimised by sexual abuse to make a stand, then this issue will not improve.