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In Italy, Not Rape if You Wear Jeans
On February 10, 1999, women across the world were appalled by the decision made by the Italian Parliament. The Court of Cassation (highest appeals court) ruled that it is impossible for a man to rape a woman if she is wearing jeans. The decision overturned many cases including the 1998 conviction of a 45-year-old man for raping an 18-year-old girl. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, but the appeals court said the teen must have consented to sex and sent the case back for retrial. |
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Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every two minutes.
In 1996, 307,000 women were the victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
Between 1995 and 1996, more than 670,000 women were the victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
In 1996, only 31% of rapes and sexual assualts were reported to law enforcement.
Approximately 68% of rape victims knew their assailant.
Approximately 28% of victims are raped by husbands/boyfriends, 35% by acquaintances and 5% by other relatives.
One in every four rapes take place in a public area.
29% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.
68% of rapes occur between 6 pm and 6 am.
At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In 29% of rapes, the offender used a weapon.
In 47% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape injuries.
75% of female rape victims require medical care after the attack.
In 1995, 126,000 children were victims of sexual abuse.
One-third of all juvenile victims of sexual abuse is younger than 6 years old.
One in two rape victims is under age 18 and one in six is under age 12.
About 81% of rape victims are white, 18% are black, 1% are other races.
In 1995, 32,130 males age 12 and older were victims of rape.
Teens 16-19 are 3 1/2 more likely than the general population to be victims of rape. |
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Many people brush off rape as a superficial crime, furthermore, the media has resorted to sympathizing with the criminal. On May 11, 1990 the New York Daily News ran the above story with the headline "To friends, a fab 4." At first glance this article looks like a glowing review of a great achievement that these four men accomplished, however this story is about a young woman and the four men who raped her. The story talks about the men and the wonderful things they'd done in the past. Their lacrosse coach was even quoted as saying, "they are the types to give something back to the community." |
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RAINN was founded by singer/songwriter Tori Amos (a rape survivor) and was funded by initial grants from the Atlantic Group and the Warner Music Group. RAINN's hotline (800-656-HOPE) began on July 26, 1994. Over 4,000 victims called the hotline in its first thirty days. To find out more about RAINN, click on the above logo. |
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