Rape Crisis Centers

Historically, feminists in various parts of the world establish rape crisis centers to cater to the specific needs of rape victims/survivors, ranging from immediate support services to long-term goals to [Page 1211]change the unequal social relations between men and women. Currently, rape crisis centers have also advertised their services to cater to sexually abused males. Nonetheless, females are more at risk for sexual assault, and they remain the main clients.

While initially rape crisis centers rely on the fund-raising efforts of its founders, which include securing grants from the government, the advocacy work has resulted in allocations for services to sexual assault victims provided for by law in certain countries. In the United States, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005 includes provisions for rape crisis centers to support direct services to adult and minor sexual assault victims as well as their family and household members. On the other hand, in the Philippines, the law mandates the creation of rape crisis centers in every province and city by a partnership between government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Budgetary allocations are also channeled under the law to the various government agencies involved, for example, the Social Welfare Department.

Immediate Support Services

Transcript

• Right, well we’re really honored to be the beneficiary of this event, and this is the third year that we’ve partnered with Barneys New York to have a fashion event and benefit the work of the Rape Treatment Center. And the Rape Treatment Center is one of the most comprehensive rape treatment programs in the United States, and we provide free care for rape victims 24 hours a day. We see a huge volume of patients; we’ve treated over 30,000 victims of all ages this past year ranging in age from four months old to 95 years old. So, in addition to treating victims, we also have prevention programs that reach across the country, a national campus rape program on college campuses around the country, and we do a lot of prevention work and a lot of training of police and prosecutors and other people who are involved in handling rape cases. And, you know, it’s a special evening for us because when you bring, you know, an event that’s about fashion and beauty and creativity together with something like the Rape Treatment Center, people often wonder, how does this fit together? But, as I said, I think that tonight is about beauty and fashion and good fun and good friendship, and those are the things that really heal the spirit and mend the soul, and that’s what the Rape Treatment Center does for victims. So this has been a wonderful partnership for us.

Sexual assault is a traumatic event for its victims, even in cases where there are no physical injuries. The victim may suffer from rape trauma syndrome, which impacts him or her emotionally, physically, and even financially. In cases of sexual assault, the cards are also stacked against the victim, as there is a tendency to blame women for “inviting” rape by the way they dress and behave. Similarly, minors who are sexually assaulted may find it difficult to be believed because it is their word against an adult's. Typically, the sexual assault victim may blame herself/himself for being raped. Since sexual assault is a medico-legal case, it becomes more complicated, as the victim will have to deal with the legal system as well.

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