Facts to Consider

The majority of sexual assaults are not reported to police.

According to Statistics Canada, only 6% of all sexual assaults are reported to police. ¹

Of the 6% of sexual assaults that are reported, only 40% result in charges being laid. Of those cases where charges are laid, two-thirds result in conviction. ²

Only 1% of all "date/acquaintance rapes" are reported to police. ³

An Alberta study on sexual assault against people with disabilities found that while 88% of offenders are known to the victim (family members, friends, acquaintances, caregivers), 80% are never charged and less than 10% are convicted. ⁴

It is estimated that over 80% of women who are sexually assaulted do not report it due to feelings of shame and humiliation or due to their fear of re-victimization through the criminal trial process. ⁵

The Impact on Health

Further Resources

Currie, J. (1995). Ethnocultural minority women, spousal assault and barriers to accessing problems in using the justice system: A review of the literature. Ottawa: Department of Justice.
Roberts, G., G. Williams, J. Lawrence & B. Raphael (1998). "How Does Domestic Violence Affect Women's Mental Health?" In Women and Health, Vol. 28 (1).

References

1. Statistics Canada (1993). The Violence Against Women Survey. Ottawa: The Daily, November 18, 1993.
2. Parriage, A., & Renner, K.E. (1998). Do Current Criminal Justice Practices Lead to Unjust Outcomes For Adult Victims of Sexual Assault?".
3. Russell, D. (1984). Sexual Exploitation: Rape, Child Abuse and Workplace Harassment. California: Sage Publishing.
4. Sobsey, D. (1988). "Sexual Offenses and Disabled Victims: Research and Practical Implications". Vis-à-Vis: A National Newsletter on Family Violence. Vol.6. No. 4. Winter.
5. Fassel, M. (1994). Disclosure of Medical and Therapeutic Records in Sexual Assault Trials: The Implications for Women's Equality. Unpublished paper presented at the Canadian Institute Conference, Toronto: April 1994 at 3.Cited in: Diane Oleskiw and Nicole Tellier, Submissions to the Standing Committee on Bill C-46, 1997, Ottawa: National Association of Women and the Law, p. 9.