Rape Victims Research Articles

Blame the System, not the Victim: Understanding the Lack of Advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

More than 5,000 Native American and Alaska Native women and girls go missing annually in the United States, and murder is the third leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 24. The current studies assess why, despite such statistics, individuals who are not Native American fail to advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The Pilot Study (N = 205) and Study 1 (N = 3,992) revealed that greater cognitive invisibility of contemporary Native Peoples (i.e., the absence of cognitive representations) was related to greater minimization of Native Peoples' experiences with racism. Racism minimization was associated with greater blaming of MMIWG victims and less blaming of societal contributors to the epidemic. These factors predicted greater apathy toward MMIWG and less MMIWG advocacy. The results suggest that the cognitive invisibility of Native Peoples affords attitudes and beliefs that allow non-Native individuals to deny, justify, and distance themselves from the MMIWG epidemic.

International and domestic crime statistics indicators of sexual crimes

Aim: In this study, the Author reviews the criminal statistics indicators of sexual crimes. Sexual crimes can be grouped according to several classification systems – for example, the age of the victims, or the method of execution, or in light of whether they are committed with violence. Based on the latter, distinguished between violent and non-violent situations – a good example of the former is the crime of sexual violence, while the latter is child pornography. The analysis of the statistical data provides insight into how and to what extent the prevalence of sexual crime develops, as well as how and with what prevention campaigns these frequency indicators can be reduced. Methodology: In the study, the Author makes a statistical presentation, the sources of which are international and domestic crime statistics databases. Findings: Although the number of proceedings initiated for sexual crimes in Hungary can be considered average for the Central and Eastern European region, the numbers of cases detected are still at high levels. In order for these cases to decrease, programs are needed that effectively combat the effects of sexual violence myths, the fear of victim blaming, and stigmatisation. Value: This study is an overview that aims to present a complex statistical point of sexual crimes, which can serve as a basis for further comparative analyses.

International and domestic crime statistics indicators of sexual crimes

Aim: In this study, the Author reviews the criminal statistics indicators of sexual crimes. Sexual crimes can be grouped according to several classification systems – for example, the age of the victims, or the method of execution, or in light of whether they are committed with violence. Based on the latter, distinguished between violent and non-violent situations – a good example of the former is the crime of sexual violence, while the latter is child pornography. The analysis of the statistical data provides insight into how and to what extent the prevalence of sexual crime develops, as well as how and with what prevention campaigns these frequency indicators can be reduced. Methodology: In the study, the Author makes a statistical presentation, the sources of which are international and domestic crime statistics databases. Findings: Although the number of proceedings initiated for sexual crimes in Hungary can be considered average for the Central and Eastern European region, the numbers of cases detected are still at high levels. In order for these cases to decrease, programs are needed that effectively combat the effects of sexual violence myths, the fear of victim blaming, and stigmatisation. Value: This study is an overview that aims to present a complex statistical point of sexual crimes, which can serve as a basis for further comparative analyses.

Policing Men, Policing Women: Responsibility and Accountability for Violence Against Women and Girls, Including Domestic Abuse and Femicide

Existing legal responses to violence against women and girls (VAWG) often focus on the behaviour of the victim as much as, or sometimes more than, that of the alleged perpetrator. The laws that are supposed to protect women and girls from abuse are used to ‘police’ the behaviour of women; access to remedies and redress can seem to be contingent on whether the victim has adhered to stereotypes of an ‘ideal/real’ or ‘deserving’ victim. Female victims of male violence, including femicide, are often judged for their own behaviour; what they ‘ought’ to have done to keep themselves safe. This ‘responsibilisation’ is evident in both the substantive law and in the implementation of the law in practice. This article will highlight some of the examples of victim blaming in existing legal responses to VAWG in England and Wales. It will consider the question: how can we focus less on victim behaviour and more on perpetrator responsibility and accountability? Jayne Cowie’s book After Dark offers a useful lens for examining this question. The article will explore the parallels between some of the existing preventative measures for domestic abuse in England and Wales and some of the fictional measures enacted in Cowie’s world, in particular cohabitation contracts and domestic violence disclosure schemes.

The Legality of Abortion by Medical Personnel for Rape Victims in Indonesia: A Perspective from Maqashid Sharia by al-Syatibi and al-Tufi

This research aimed to analyze the legality of abortion by medical professionals for rape victims in Indonesia through the perspective of maqashid sharia. This study adopts a normative legal research approach, utilizing statutory interpretation (legal approach) and conceptual analysis (conceptual approach). The results of this study suggest that maqashid sharia emphasizes that abortions should not be performed arbitrarily and are only permissible in urgent situations that fulfill sharia objectives. This includes scenarios where the mother's life is at risk or serious medical conditions prevent the continuation of pregnancy. Such decisions should be made carefully, considering maslahah and mafsadat and involving consultations with medical experts and religious authorities. The maslahah principles elucidated by al-Tufi expand the flexibility in legal interpretation, allowing for Islamic law adaptation to contemporary needs and conditions. This is particularly relevant in abortion cases, where explicit guidance may not always be found in religious texts. Overall, the maqashid sharia approach to abortion underscores the importance of principles of justice, balance, and humanity in Islamic law. By considering all these aspects, Islamic law can provide relevant and adaptive guidance in addressing contemporary issues like abortion while remaining faithful to the primary objectives of sharia to achieve collective good and avoid harm. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis legalitas aborsi oleh tenaga medis bagi korban perkosaan di Indonesia melalui perspektif maqasid syariah. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian hukum normatif, dengan menggunakan pendekatan peraturan perundang-undangan (legal approach) dan pendekatan konseptual (conceptual approach). Temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada ketegangan antara norma hukum yang ketat dan prinsip-prinsip maslahat dalam maqasid syariah yang mengutamakan kesejahteraan dan perlindungan terhadap korban perkosaan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa maqasid syariah menekankan bahwa aborsi tidak boleh dilakukan sembarangan dan hanya diperbolehkan dalam situasi mendesak dan memenuhi tujuan syariah. Ini termasuk situasi di mana kelangsungan hidup ibu terancam atau kondisi medis yang serius tidak memungkinkan kehamilan berlanjut. Keputusan tersebut harus diambil dengan hati-hati, dengan mempertimbangkan maslahah (barang publik) dan mafsadat (bahaya), dan melibatkan konsultasi dengan para ahli medis dan otoritas agama. Prinsip-prinsip mashlahah yang dijelaskan oleh al-Tufi memperluas fleksibilitas dalam interpretasi hukum, memungkinkan adaptasi hukum Islam dengan kebutuhan dan kondisi kontemporer. Ini sangat relevan dalam kasus aborsi, di mana tidak selalu ada panduan eksplisit dalam teks-teks agama. Secara keseluruhan, pendekatan maqasid syariah terhadap aborsi menggarisbawahi pentingnya prinsip-prinsip keadilan, keseimbangan, dan kemanusiaan dalam hukum Islam. Dengan mempertimbangkan semua aspek ini, hukum Islam dapat memberikan panduan yang relevan dan adaptif dalam menangani isu-isu kontemporer seperti aborsi, sambil tetap setia pada tujuan utama syariah untuk mencapai kebaikan bersama dan menghindari bahaya.

Penerapan Peraturan Perundang-Undangan Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual di Lingkungan Kampus

This research discusses the negative impact of the internet on society, especially related to cases of sexual violence and revenge porn. Through a descriptive qualitative approach with secondary data analysis, this research highlights a tragic case in Pandeglang, Banten, where a female student, IAK, became a victim of rape and distribution of revenge pornographic content by her ex-boyfriend, Alwi Husein Maolana. This case reflects the complexity of the challenges in dealing with sexual violence in cyberspace, where victims face various forms of physical and psychological violence, as well as threats and blackmail. Even though the perpetrator was punished under the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (UU ITE), there is the potential to charge him with other articles related to sexual violence, rape and coercion. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive and fair law enforcement in dealing with cybercrime and sexual violence, as well as the importance of deeper awareness and understanding of related legal concepts to protect victims and punish perpetrators appropriately. Thus, this research provides valuable insight into the need for legal reform and public awareness in addressing the negative impact of the internet on sexual violence.

The Role of Defendant Gender and PTSD Diagnosis in a Battered Spouse Case.

A quarter of women and 11% of men report being survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) during their lifetimes in the United States. Despite being victims themselves, people who kill their IPV abuser can still be subject to criminal proceedings. Given this complexity, the law has employed battered spouse syndrome (BSS) as a tool used in some jurisdictions to support a claim that an IPV survivor killed in self-defense. A defendant who is attempting to claim self-defense using BSS may introduce testimony of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a diagnosis of PTSD can pose problems in admission during litigation as the occurrence of a traumatic event is often what is being decided. The present study examined how college students, living on the U.S.-México border, perceive survivors-turned-defendants in a BSS mock trial. Specifically, we had each participant read a written trial transcript of a mock trial where gender of the defendant and clinical diagnosis of PTSD were manipulated. The current study hypothesized that jurors would be more lenient toward female defendants than male defendants (Hypothesis 1), jurors would be influenced by a PTSD diagnosis of the defendant (Hypothesis 2a-b), and female jurors would be more lenient than male jurors (Hypothesis 3). We also wanted to examine the impact of victim blaming, sexism, stigma of PTSD, and prior exposure to IPV on decision-making (Hypothesis 4a-d). Findings showed jurors were more lenient with female defendants than male defendants, however there was no effect of clinical diagnosis except on difficulty of decision. Implications of the role defendant gender has in decision-making is discussed.

The Silencing of Rape Victims in Readers’ Comments on Serbian News Websites

The Silencing of Rape Victims in Readers’ Comments on Serbian News Websites

“The victim lived an intense life”: media (mis)representations of femicide crimes in the Republic of Cyprus

ABSTRACT International media research has recently emphasized the coverage of “partner homicides” in news media outlets with specific focus on the traits/characteristics and the forms of femicides. This led us to consider the ways in which news media outlets construct, portray, affect audiences and certain groups of individuals through the representations of such crimes. Through thematic content analysis of crime news, the purpose of this study is to determine how femicide victims are portrayed by major news media outlets in the Republic of Cyprus. The research consisted of an analysis of 366 femicide-related articles referring to 37 femicides that took place from 2006 to 2020. The data were analyzed to determine effects on newsworthiness, public perception, and patterns of victim blaming. The phenomenon of victim blaming emerged from the analysis as a recurring frame, both in a direct and indirect manner. Such blaming strategies include the usage of language with negative connotations in descriptions of the victim, such as highlighting their “promiscuous” pasts, and the attribution of “male honor”-related motives to the perpetrators, using sympathetic language to describe the perpetrator, highlighting the victim’s mental or physical problems, and so forth.

Ecological approach to the characteristics and determinants of sexual violence against adolescents in Perú

Introduction. Sexual violence against adolescents is a global problem that affects young people around the world. The ecological model examines its forms and determinants through interconnected levels. Objective. To determine the frequency, characteristics, and predictors of sexual violence in adolescents attending school in Perú. Materials and methods. This was a cross-sectional study that secondarily analyzed data from the Encuesta Nacional de Relaciones Sociales (2019). A stratified probabilistic sample involved 1,579 youth aged 12-17 from 93 schools. The questionnaire evaluated physical, psychological, and sexual violence in the family and at school. Models were estimated using logistic regression analysis, calculating odds ratio (OR). Results. Eighteen point sixty eight per cent (95% CI: 16.80-20.60) suffered some type of sexual assault. In addition, 9.75% (95% CI: 8.28-11.21) reported having been touched in some part of the body and 1.84% (95% CI: 1.17-2.50) reported that was a victim of rape. Age was identified as a risk factor in the microsystem (OR = 1.48) (95% CI: 1.26-1.74), while the age of the first experienced sexual violence acted as a protective factor (OR = 0.61) (95% CI: 0.54-0.69). In addition, in the macrosystem, the perception that violence occurs mainly outside the home increased the risk (OR = 2.06) (95% CI: 1.01-4.19). Conclusions. Approximately two out of ten respondents reported having experienced some type of sexual violence, with verbal harassment and invasive personal contact being the most common. No single level or factor can fully explain adolescent sexual violence without considering its ecological interconnectedness.

Negotiating between speech and silence as a form of agency: Understanding Dalit women's experiences of sexual violence in India

This article explores the complexities of non-disclosure among female Dalit survivors of rape who negotiate between speech and silence as a means of exercising agency. It analyses the role of Brahmanical patriarchy, Dalit feminism and social constructionist theory to unpack the silence, shame, secrecy and cultural censorship surrounding sex and sexual violence both in India at large and for Dalit women in particular. The study comprised 28 qualitative interviews with Dalit women who had been raped by men; it employs Foucault's notion of resistance, regulation and subjectivity to explore when and to whom these participants chose to disclose their rape. It thus seeks to theories these women's varied responses to their rape as acts of agency and resistance, demonstrating how silence can operate on multiple levels: individual, family and community. It draws on India's #LoSHA movement to demonstrate the dangers of universalizing victim-survivors' experiences of sexual violence and to parse the complexities of speaking out or remaining silent and how these play out in individual and collective contexts. In focusing on Dalit women and situating their non-disclosure within an intersectional context, this work differentiates between the passivity of being silenced and the agency and resistance inherent in the decision to remain silent. Therefore, this paper makes a unique contribution to the literature on patriarchy, Dalit studies, feminism and social constructivism.

“What is Rape, Why Me, So What Now?” Out of the Shadows: Women’s Post-Rape Life Experiences in Turkey

Women who have experienced rape are at risk for short/long term physical and mental health problems, psycho-social and socio-economic challenges, they may have a variety of related social service needs. This study aims to explore the post-rape life experiences of women in Turkey, a country where male violence against women, particularly rape, remains prevalent. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 women, who are resident in Turkey and survivors of rape. The findings derived from thematic analysis illuminate the dual burden faced by the survivors: the trauma from rape itself, and the imposed submissiveness within a patriarchal society. These experiences contribute to the deepening of the emotional and psychological aftermath of the trauma, pushing the survivors into a vulnerable state. The results of this study underscore the urgent need for systemic and cultural changes in Turkey, as well as enhanced support mechanisms and social services for survivors of rape. There is a need for research to examine the needs that arise from the intersecting issues experienced by women who have been subjected to rape.

Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Hak Anak Korban Pemerkosaan dan Proses Pemeriksaan di Pengadilan Negeri Waingapu

Sexual violence is one form of human rights violations, every degrading, insulting, harassing, and / or attacking the body of the body, and / or a reproductive function of a person is considered a criminal deed. Criminal acts against children become characteristic as a child as a subject that became the focus of the perpetrator in achieving criminal goals. Where the child is part of the young generation that must be protected and expected for the progress of the nation. The purpose of this research: 1. To find out the rights of the rape victim's child in the court of waingapu, 2. To learn legal protection against the rights of the child as a rape victim in waingapu district court. The study was an empirical juxtapossion study involving legal protection against child rape and judicial proceedings at waingapu. The results of this study indicate: 1. Judge's consideration in deciding for the child rape suspect based on ruling number: 79/ pid. SUS /2023/ pn WGP. The two main points for judgment of the judge were, first juridical, in the trial of the law that should be the focus in the verdict of the prosecution's prosecution of the accused, the judgment of the non juridical judge, the judge referring to the conditions of the defendant as referencing the verdict. Two. The kind of protection the rape victim had based on ruling number: 79/ pid. SUS /2023/ pn WGP. Victims have obtained protection such as obtaining a legal escort, during the trial a trial mechanism that guards the child's identity, in addition to child's home-provided child services as a psychic escort. But there are also no optimal countries in providing such protection as access to facilities that should be fast and simple for children.

Sex Crimes and Victim Blaming: How to Stop It

This article addresses the issue of victim blaming in sex crimes. It examines the causes that lead people to blame rape victims and the consequences of victim blaming, including its impact on the mental health and well-being of survivors. The findings of the study revealed that to prevent rape and sexual assault, it is imperative to educate men on the prevention of rape and to challenge traditional gender roles. Parents should be made aware of the potential dangers of gender socialization. Women and girls should never be instructed to alter their behavior or attire. This approach may inadvertently convey the notion that their actions are a cause of rape or sexual assault. In the event of rape or sexual assault, it is crucial to provide support to the victim. It is also essential to cease the practice of blaming victims. The perpetrator is solely responsible and should be held accountable. To eradicate rape, it is essential that individuals recognize the potential for men and women to coexist as equals. Finally, the article suggests some strategies to challenge victim blaming.

“Dressed like boys, hair trimmed, a nalla kutti otherwise”: construction of queer suicide in Indian online news media

Suicide is a significant newsworthy event, and the media often cover cases involving queer individuals. However, there is a notable lack of research on the quality of reporting of queer suicide cases within the Indian context. This article aims to address the existing gap in Indian online news media by investigating the portrayal of queer suicide via content analysis. Content analysis involves qualitatively condensing and interpreting data to extract key consistencies and meanings from a plethora of qualitative material. The newspapers considered span from 2005 to 2022, with data collection conducted in 2023. The author alone identified news articles on queer suicide and conducted the subsequent content analysis. The study reveals that reporting on queer suicide tends to divide queer couples into the gender binary and describes what it deems to be careless sexual conduct driven by obsessive queer love, which, in turn, is blamed for the suicide. Moreover, these reports often do the following: feature families who refuse to accept their children’s identities, adopt dread-filled tones, and cite experts who provide incorrect information while engaging in victim blaming. As a result, the quality of queer suicide reporting in Indian newspapers is deemed substandard and offensive. To address this issue, the study proposes the need for training and curriculum updates in journalistic courses. This way, reporters can develop the skills necessary to sensitively and respectfully report on queer individuals in general and on queer suicide in particular.

Rape Survivors, the Law, and Social Media in Morocco

This article analyzes the mistreatment of rape victims in Morocco and the risks women face in reporting rape. The stigmatization and categorization of rape victims by Islamic religion and law pose significant challenges, as they prohibit consensual sex outside of marriage. Additionally, the Moroccan Penal Code considers the loss of virginity an aggravating circumstance in rape cases, which could lead to a biased ideology in rape trials.

Exploring police attitudes on victims’ delayed reporting and victim blame in technology-facilitated IPV

Background settingCyberstalking, now conceptualised as one of the forms of technology-facilitated intimate partner violence (TFIPV), has seen an exponential rise in recent years. TFIPV victims may hesitate and delay reporting cyberstalking to the police for various reasons (e.g., lack of recognition, thinking that it may be a waste of time, hoping it will stop etc.) and thus potentially influence how investigating police officers perceive their credibility and responsibility. This study investigates the recognition of cyberstalking as a crime among police personnel and the potential effect of reporting delays on police officers’ attitudes towards the victims.MethodsAn online survey was conducted with 108 police officers in the UK, who were presented with a vignette illustrating one of three almost identical scenarios, differing only in the time of reporting (after one month, after six months, after 12 months). Subsequently, participants completed a questionnaire that assessed their recognition of the case as cyberstalking and their attitudes towards victims. All police officers had received predetermined police training at various levels. In addition to these police training programmes, a minority of officers (27) had attended the specialised training programme on intimate partner violence, Domestic Abuse (DA) Matters, while the majority (81) had not.ResultsAmong the officers who completed the aforementioned special training, all except one recognised the case as cyberstalking; contrastingly, out of 81 officers without such special training 28 expressed uncertainty, whereas three did not recognise it at all. The victim’s delay to report cyberstalking had a significant effect on police officers’ victim blaming levels. The gender of police officers and their police training level were not identified as moderators of the relationship between victim’s delay in cyberstalking reporting and victim blaming.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the importance for enhanced recognition and understanding of cyberstalking among police officers, particularly through specialised training programs. The study underscores the importance of addressing attitudes towards victims with the goal of improving police responses to TFIPV.

Emerging Trends in Intimate Partner Rape and Marital/Spousal Rape During the Biennium 2020 and 2021, Including the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece.

Intimate partner or marital/spousal rape is a phenomenon with unique characteristics and dynamics. Furthermore, it is an under-explored, under-defined, under-reported, and widely tolerated phenomenon. Gender-based violence and intimate partner violence are the main topics of the present study. The study aimed at exploring the trends in reported intimate partner and marital/spousal rape, within the wider context of reported domestic violence during the years 2020 and 2021 in Greece. Statistical analysis has not indicated positive correlation between the rate of reported domestic violence per year and the rate of reported domestic rape per year, with the former following an upward trend and the latter maintaining an almost steady course. Similarly, the rate of reported victims of intimate partner rape per year remained almost stable within in the 2 years. Importantly however, in 2021, the rate of reported victims of marital rape per year increased remarkably compared to 2020. In 2021, the rates of reported domestic violence per month and reported domestic rape per month indicated remarkable increase over the period May to December 2021. Notwithstanding, the rates mentioned above remained almost stable over the year 2020, showing an upward trend during the summer months. In August 2020 and 2021 the abovementioned rates reached their peak. In both years, the vast majority of victims of domestic rape were females, mostly between 30 and 45 years of age. The present study indicated an increase in rates of reported domestic violence and reported domestic rape per month after the lockdowns, especially after the second long-lasting lockdown that ended in May 2021. This increase, however, might be only apparent. Further research is needed to study the epidemiology of intimate partner and marital rape over a much longer timespan to provide further insight into the dynamics surrounding a public health concern.

Abortion provisions for rape victims: A comparative study of 6 Asian Countries

Abortion in cases of rape has sparked a lengthy debate among societies and governments around the world because it involves religious, ethical, cultural, and legal considerations. Some consider it a woman's right and protection for victims, while others think the fetus also has a right to life. This research aims to specifically examine abortion provisions for rape victims in six countries in Asia. The method used in this research is normative legal research with a case study approach in 6 (six) countries in Asia. The findings of this research show that each country has different regulations regarding abortion. The rules regarding abortion in Indonesia are now regulated in the Criminal Code and the 2023 Health Law. Then, in Malaysia, abortion is regulated in the Penal Code of Malaysia (Kanun Success), the abortion rules in Singapore are held in the Termination of Pregnancy Act chapter 324 (Termination Act Pregnancy), the Philippines is regulated in the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, Japan is regulated in the Japan Penal Code and South Korea is held in 2017Hun-Ba127 (Const. Ct., 11 Apr. 2019).

Perspective-Taking Does Not Reduce Victim Blaming in Work-Related Situations

ABSTRACT According to the just-world theory, people tend to blame innocent victims for the misfortune they experienced to preserve the belief in a just world. Our preregistered experimental study (N = 404; a university participants pool) employed work-related scenarios to test the possibility of reducing victim-blaming by taking a victim’s perspective. We also explored whether “victim-blaming” occurs for both undeserved negative and positive outcomes, i.e. attributions of blame or virtue in scenarios including demotions, dismissals, public reprimands, and removal of responsibilities as negative outcomes; and bonuses, promotions, salary raises, and job hirings as positive outcomes. We found that victim-blaming followed from the just-world belief only in scenarios where an individual gains unjust benefit. The belief in a just world could thus lead to the misattribution of positive work outcomes and could result in biased human resources management. Taking the victim’s perspective did not reduce attributions of blame and virtue. However, participants considered the outcomes more deserved when they took the perpetrator’s perspective. This finding may be a warning that if a perpetrator’s perception framework is more accessible for assessing a particular situation, the victims will be blamed more.