RAIP

Every 2 Minutes

One in three women are raped in their lifetime and, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, an American is raped or sexually assaulted once every two minutes. And, while the good news is that rape has decreased along with other violent crimes, calls for help are up more than 40% in the last 2 years.

Perhaps one of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. Only about 1/3 of rapes and/or sexual assaults are ever reported to the police. The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant. This may be because a woman's risk of being raped by someone she knows is four times greater than being raped by a stranger; in fact, 66% of rape and/or sexual assault victims knew their assailants. The good news, however, is more and more survivors are speaking out publicly, helping to lessen the stigma long associated with rape and its victims.

You're Not to Blame

True rape prevention will only occur when our communities fight back against rape and other forms of abuse. Women have a right to move in the world without having people hurt them. And, remember, no matter what a woman does (or doesn't do), it is not their fault if they are assaulted.

RAPE, ABUSE AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK
1-800-656-HOPE
www.rainn.org

Mariska Hargitay;
the actress is a spokesperson for Safe Horizon, a New York City�based nonprofit organization that helps victims of abuse.

The NSVRC does not provide direct services to sexual assault victims but rather supports those who do, such as coalitions, rape crisis centers, national, state and local agencies and allied programs.
The NSVRC refers requests for direct victim�s services to the appropriate state coalition and to a local program conveniently located to the caller.