Underreporting: It’s not uncommon among survivors who have endured rape, a humiliating, wounding and frequent weapon of war. Women are not the only victims – so are men, children, entire communities. The damage is widespread.
Sometimes cultural taboos and social stigmas deter our torture survivor clients from speaking out. In some places, sexual assault is thought to make a woman an unsuitable marriage partner. In others, communities perceive rape as akin to death.
For men, rape often results in severe identity consequences because the act is one of extreme powerlessness and violation. It’s viewed as emasculating.
Clients have said to us, “I was treated like an animal, worse than an animal,” and “The world is not a place where I can trust anyone.” These are just some of the motivations for underreporting. For silence.
But every day at CVT, we witness the healing power survivors find once they’re able to tell their stories. We know there is hope for all our clients who say #MeToo – even if, at first, they can’t.
Join CVT. Take Action. Support survivors and reject sexual torture.
