Preventing sexual assualt
Challenges for service providers
There are many myths about what sort of person gets raped or sexually assaulted – and it's assumed not to be an elderly or disabled person.
It is important to remember that "Sexual offenders are attracted by vulnerability and availability, rather than by physical attributes of potential victims" – Groth, A N. Men who rape: The psychology of the offender (2001).
- Many people with cognitive impairments are not believed about many things they report, sexual assault among them. They will have to rely on someone witnessing an assault and reporting it, or on medical evidence – things that perpetrators are careful to avoid.
- People in residential settings can become invisible members of our community. Many do not believe these people would be sexually assaulted, and organisations fear litigation.
- Staff are often slow to report this crime, resulting in loss of vital crime-scene evidence. Lack of police expertise in dealing with this group, and investigation delays generally, mean again that offenders may not be apprehended, and victims not safe from further assaults. The criminal justice system also makes little provision for those who are not verbal or have disabilities, particularly memory impairments.
It is imperative that service providers have active and effective abuse prevention strategies and appropriate response mechanisms where abuse or alleged abuse occurs. These strategies must span all aspects of the service's operations including culture, governance, client service, human resources, the physical environment and policies and procedures.
Julie Blyth and Lauren Kelly, Northern Sydney Sexual Assault Service
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