If you are a woman living in Australia, there is a one in five chance you will experience sexual assault.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the vast majority of secual assault cases go unreported, and there is a high chance authorities willnot be informed and the perpetrator will go unprosecuted.
The ABS Australian Women’s Safety research revealed 68 per cent of rape cases have been perpetrated by someone close to the victim, and, again, most were unreported. As a result, it is estimated that up to 97 per cent of perpetrators do not face a day in prison. Despite the figures, there are disputes over how best to minimise rape and rape culture.
Contention surrounds the question: Should prevention of rape take priority over supporting survivors? Everyday Feminism, a multi-platform magazine argued: “Prioritising prevention over supporting survivors is an extension of rape culture.” This approach presented rape as something that can be prevented or cured, and likened it to a “disease”.
The ‘prevention’ approach is designed to stop rape before it happens. Executive Officer Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia, Karen Willis has curated research that stated effective prevention required five aspects. One aspect focused on relevance and social inclusion, and involved victims as well as the general public.