Start By Believing- Your Reaction Makes a Difference

There is no shame when your loved one dies. When your car is stolen. When you're diagnosed with cancer. Friends and loved ones gather around you for support. They don't blame you for "bringing it on yourself."

It should be the same with sexual violence. But all too often, survivors who have the courage to tell someone what happened are blamed for bringing it on themselves. This needs to change.

Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign designed to change the way we respond to rape and sexual assault in our communities.

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  Nonprofits & Activism

[Ironzealot7531]

10% is still quite a lot when you consider the number of reports that are made to law enforcement every year.

Rape is also unique in that it can be prosecuted with no evidence other than the accusation, itself. It's pretty scary how your whole life can be destroyed over nothing more than an angry ex-lover pointing the finger at you.

[DontPanicYet4590]

Actually anyone who has gone through hospital advocacy training (MOCSA love) can tell you that false reporting in rape is no higher than any other crime and is actually closer to 10%. Go the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. It's there in an article.

[solmersa]

Rape should be punished when it has happened. Unfortunately the false rape charges are high, nearly 40% up to 50%, so we should not blindly believe all the claims are true. Instead each case should be thoroughly investigated, including using polygraph with both accused and accuser.

When the investigation reveals it was true, the accused should be punished, but, when it is proved that it was fake, the accuser should be punished and her/his name should be entered in a Sexual predator database.

[nat11abbee]

Very powerful message, and so true.  When will the victim blaming stop!!