2008 Woodie Awards
Internet Resource Offers Anonymous Support For Rape Victims
Anna Kapranova
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) - a network dedicated to providing aid to anyone who has suffered at the hands of others 24 hours a day and seven days a week, has started a new innovative system of support. A new Online Hotline service was recently launched to provide immediate care to any who needs it.
Sexual assault, attempted or perpetrated, remains to be one of the most unreported crimes.
"According to the sexual victimization of college women research conducted by the National Institutes of Justice, fewer than 5 percent of completed and attempted rapes were reported to law enforcement officials," said Elizabeth Cracco, Violence Against Women Prevention Program coordinator at the UConn Women's Center.
While most survivors do end up telling someone of the crime, most usually are hesitant to report it to the authorities.
"Many [women] indicated that they did not report [the assault] because of fear of not being believed, or fear of others knowing, fear of reprisal by the perpetrator, of fear of being treated poorly," Cracco said.
The new national sexual assault hotline, started by RAINN, aims to calm these fears.
RAINN started the hotline hoping to reach a generation that is used to talking online about the most pained memories and experiences with the freedom obtained only from anonymity. Partnered with the best online protection, it intends to provide a medium of help to victims online, while not recording any sort of personal information of those who use it.
According to their Web site, the service offers "crisis intervention and support, answers to questions about recovering, information about medical issues, explanations of the criminal justice system, and referrals to resources in your area."
Reminiscent of the instant messaging system, the hotline functions as a one-to-one, real-time chat that automatically connects the user to a fully trained crisis-support volunteer.
Sexual assault, attempted or perpetrated, remains to be one of the most unreported crimes.
"According to the sexual victimization of college women research conducted by the National Institutes of Justice, fewer than 5 percent of completed and attempted rapes were reported to law enforcement officials," said Elizabeth Cracco, Violence Against Women Prevention Program coordinator at the UConn Women's Center.
While most survivors do end up telling someone of the crime, most usually are hesitant to report it to the authorities.
"Many [women] indicated that they did not report [the assault] because of fear of not being believed, or fear of others knowing, fear of reprisal by the perpetrator, of fear of being treated poorly," Cracco said.
The new national sexual assault hotline, started by RAINN, aims to calm these fears.
RAINN started the hotline hoping to reach a generation that is used to talking online about the most pained memories and experiences with the freedom obtained only from anonymity. Partnered with the best online protection, it intends to provide a medium of help to victims online, while not recording any sort of personal information of those who use it.
According to their Web site, the service offers "crisis intervention and support, answers to questions about recovering, information about medical issues, explanations of the criminal justice system, and referrals to resources in your area."
Reminiscent of the instant messaging system, the hotline functions as a one-to-one, real-time chat that automatically connects the user to a fully trained crisis-support volunteer.
Be the first to comment on this story