Sexual Violence in the Community

Due to an increasing prevalence of family violence, there is a strong National and Tasmanian focus on preventing and addressing family and domestic violence.

It is important however, to understand that whilst there are consistencies between the family violence and sexual assault sectors there are also differences that must be recognised. For example, people experience sexual violence at the hands of friends, strangers, and public or authority figures as well as their intimate partners.

The National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV) defines sexual violence as including a “range of violent behaviours including, unwanted touching, sexual harassment, coerced sexual assault, rape and other physical violence and threat to life,” (NASASV Standards of Practice Manual for Services Against Sexual Violence 2nd Edition).

The true impact of sexual violence in Tasmania is difficult to measure due to the significant flow-on effects it has, including physical, emotional, psychological, economic, legal, and social and health consequences for individuals, families, friends and the whole community.

The impacts of sexual violence are multifaceted, often further compounded by factors such as gender, age, socio economic status, culture and religion. Therefore, individuals who experience sexual violence in the form of sexual assault face multiple and complex barriers to disclosure with very few people reporting sexual assault to police. These barriers include, but are not limited to, the individual’s relationship to the perpetrator, fear of the perpetrator, lack of trust in the justice system from previous experiences, shame, trauma and stigma and the widely held attitudes within the community that places the blame on the victim.

Sexual assault in the family violence context can have additional complexities to disclosure or reporting, including the nature of an ongoing relationship with the perpetrator, being financially dependent on the perpetrator, possibility of homelessness, presence of children and impact of violence on children. Barriers to children disclosing sexual assault include fear for own safety, fear of

family breakdown, feeling of responsibility for siblings or other family members and fear of not being believed and supported.

Sexual violence is universally acknowledged as a crime. The impact of sexual violence in some cases can last a lifetime with a high number of adult survivors of child sexual abuse experiencing mental health illnesses some resulting in death (often by suicide).

Quantifying the number of sexual assault incidences in Tasmania is also difficult as it is a hidden form of sexual violence due to the barriers to disclosure. Research in Australia has found that 58% of women who have experienced sexual or physical violence had never contacted the police and 24% of women had not sought any information or support.

“Important to remember when attempting to determine the extent of sexual assault. A range of factors such as barriers to disclosure, the low rate of reporting to police, varying definitions of sexual assault and abuse and the complexity of recording and counting such information make this a particularly hidden type of violence.” (The Nature and Extent of Sexual Assault and Abuse in Australia, 2012).

Consequently, it is important to remember when viewing statistics that incidences of sexual assault are under-reported.

Research and statistics show that in Australia both men and women experience significant levels of violence with men, women and children more likely to experience violence from a male rather than a female. Overwhelmingly, sexual violence is committed by men against women.

Research from the 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey and Australian Institute of Criminology found:

1in 5 Australian women had experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 years.

1 in 6 Australian women had experienced sexual violence or physical violence from a current or former partner.

36 per cent of women had been experienced sexual or physical violence by someone known to them.

15 per cent of women had experienced sexual or physical violence from an ex-partner and 15 per cent of all Australian women had been sexually assaulted by a person they know since the age of 15 years.

23 584 of all Australian women aged between18 -24 years reported having experienced sexual assault in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Twice as many women in the 18-24 age bracket experience sexual assault compared to all other women.

Australian women are most likely to experience sexual violence in their home.

Additionally, Women with Disabilities Australia found 90% of women with an intellectual disability have been subjected to sexual violence.

As of June 2015, the current year date statistics for family violence incidents recorded by Tasmania Police was 2 606. In 2013-2014, Tasmania Police recorded 217 sexual assaults. This was an increase of 33% from the previous year with females accounting for 85% of the sexual assault victims.

In the same year, a total of 1 694 people accessed services provided through the TSAS Program with 1 304 or nearly 75 per cent of the total number accessing services being female. Program data over a nine month period showed a significant increase from the year prior in both the total numbers of people including females accessing services. A total number of 1 954 people accessed services of which 1 531or 78 per cent were female.

The 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey found that whilst there had been a reduction in the people surveyed excusing domestic violence since the previous survey in 2009, there was in fact an increase in the people surveyed excusing incidences of sexual assault.

Most concerning is that a sizeable group surveyed believed sexual violence against women can be accepted in certain situations including if the perpetrator is affected by alcohol or if sexual assault results from a man not being able to control their need for sex. Although it is recognised that acts of sexual violence, which includes rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse, are usually pre-planned crimes.

Findings from research and statistics on sexual violence against women in Australia continually demonstrate the need to understand sexual violence against women in the context of the attitudes and beliefs regarding gender equity that exist in the community. This does not in any way dismiss the experience of men who have experienced sexual violence. However, it does validate an approach that addresses gender inequality, including the attitudes and beliefs generated by traditional gender roles and stereotypes.

“men are subject to stereotypes and the dominating social expectations around traditional models of masculinity;…both sexes can experience detrimental consequences resulting from these gender expectations and the violent use of power.” (NASASV Standards of Practice Manual for Services Against Sexual Violence 2nd Edition).

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Sexual Violence in the Community