Sexual assault often goes unreported; Advocates want survivors to know help is available
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Sexual assault can happen to anyone and often times many cases go unreported. Thats why advocates are sharing that awareness and understanding consent are vital.
More than 3000 women a year report being a victim of sexual assault and that’s in Missouri alone. Local advocates share that breaking the silence starts with believing victims and giving them a safe space.
“1 in 4 women will be victims of sexual assault by the age of 21 and 1 in 3 victims will, experience sexual assault in their lifetime” says Becky Holloway, Semo NAS-V Director.
Advocates say sexual report numbers are continuing to rise. Happening now a women identified as ‘Jane Doe’ has accused 7 male Cornell University students of rape that she alleges lasted hours. The case is being looked at by the District Attorney of Ithaca New York but no arrests have been made related to the incident.
On a local level former Southeast Missouri State University football player Daronne Wright has been arrested, and faces charges of rape,kidnapping, sodomy, and two counts of domestic assault after a victim alleges she was held at gunpoint and assaulted for hours. Wright currently has a $100,000 cash only bond.
“Rape crisis centers have been around for over 40 years now and, our numbers continue to rise” says Holloway. “We know that the state of missouri had close to 4000 cases reported, in the previous years. So those are just the reported cases. We know that a lot of victims don’t come forward and don’t report for a variety of reasons.”
Holloway says they encourage all victims of sexual assault to call the 24-hour crisis hotline to report and receive critical help, victims can stay anonymous and can be connected to local counseling, medical care, resources and more.
Local resources: Home – SEMO NASV
24-hour crisis Hotline: 877-820-6278
