[quote]By Amy Ahern
Guest Writer
Graphic by Ana Biccoli[/quote]

Statistically, a rape crime only makes up 7.2 percent of reported violent crimes every year. One in three women and one in four men will experience a form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Here is the ugly truth about rape. It is estimated that 68 percent of rapes are not reported and as a result 98 percent of rapists will not spend a day in prison.

Rape is the number one unreported crime in the United States and for one reason: victim blamming. The majority of rape victims are faced with the overwhelming task of reliving their attacks over and over again, when they have to report the crime and testify in court. All this seems natural for any victim of a crime. So why do we have such a high percentage of rape crimes unreported? Simple, while the victim bravely recounts every detail of the horrific attack they are also faced with these questions and comments: “Why was she out drinking so late?”, “What were you wearing?”, “I’ll tell someone next time.”, “Boys will be boys.”, “She was asking for it.”  Really, she was asking to be brutally assaulted and intimately violated most likely by a person she knew well and trusted?

The police officers, EMT officials, and lawyers, and judges, all people who are supposed to help the victims, create a feeling of humility and blame on the victim. A Montana judge, Todd Baugh, sentenced a 54 year old man to only 30 days in jail for the rape of a 14 year old girl.

According to Mr. Baugh, “The 14-year-old victim was “as much in control of the situation” as her 54-year-old rapist.” The only person allowed to carry the blame of this crime is the perpetrator. The only person involved in a rape crime that needs to feel humiliated or outcasted is the rapist. The rapist is the one who chose to ignore the cries of pain and disparity. The rapist is the one who broke the law and harmed another human being against their will. The rapist is the person who ignored the word ‘NO’. In every rape the victim was acting within their rights as, not only a residence of the United States but, as a human being.

This culture of victim blaming has also bled over into the crimes of domestic violence. It is estimated that every 9 seconds a women is assaulted or beaten and every minute 20 people are abused by an intimate partner. That is more than 10 million men and women per year, and only 34 percent  received medical attention for their injuries. In the case of domestic violence it is estimated that 70 percent of the crimes go unreported because of questions like “Why didn’t she just leave?” Victims of domestic violence often report the feeling of no escape. Roia Atmar was married to her abusive husband for five years and it was not until he attempted to kill her, by setting her on fire, that anyone realized something was deadly wrong. So, “why didn’t someone else report it?” Well, in most cases the abusive partner is very charming, and easily maintains the look of a perfect family. Roia explains that she was a very outspoken child, and people assumed that if something was wrong, she would have said something. Well “why didn’t she just leave him?” Roia reflects that she “had no idea police would get involved and care, or anybody else would care. If [she] knew [she] had the option, [she] would have left a long time ago. That was one of the main reasons [she] did not attempt leaving him. When [she] found out [she] could leave, it was after he tried to kill [her] and [she] was in the hospital.” Roia was lucky to escape alive and witness her husband recieve a 12 year sentence. When a gun is present in the household homicide is increased by 500%. Unfortunately, there are cases of domestic violence that end in death, and each one could have been prevented through educational and awareness.

The culture of victim blaming is still very prominent in today’s society, and it is the number one reason rape and domestic violence crimes struggle to receive the attention needed to solve and prevent these crimes. Victim blaming is 100% curable. In today’s world, more than ever before, people are openly discussing sexual assault and domestic violence. Thanks to multiple foundations and associations more people are becoming aware of the nature of sexual assault and domestic violence in our nation. The Joyful Heart Foundation was founded in 2004 by Mariska Hargitay. Their mission is to “ heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.” In 2013, the No More Campaign was launched to “amplify the power of the domestic violence and sexual assault movement using a unifying symbol to drive awareness and break down the barriers of stigma, silence and shame that keep people from talking about these issues and taking action to prevent them.” With the launch of this campaign it is the first time sexual assault and domestic violence have been brought together as one cause. Together we can end domestic violence and sexual assault. No more bystanding.