Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Assault in Canada
Women
According to Government Canada (2024), Women are more likely than men to experience sexual assault. Self-reported data from 2018 showed that 33% of women experienced sexual assault in their lifetime (since the age of 15), tripling the occurrence of sexual assault reported among men (9%). Young women between the ages of 12 and 34 are at the highest risk for sexual assault.
LGBTQ2+
The statistics are even more alarming for those within marginalized sexual groups. Over 70% of trans youth in Canada have experienced sexual assault (Annelies, 2023). Higher rates also exist for anyone identifying within the (LGBTQ2+) community.
Indigenous People and Communities
Childhood abuse and neglect is a significant risk factor for future victimization (Annelies, 2023). The Cedar Project In British Columbia identified a connection between transgenerational trauma, specifically the sexual abuse that occurred in residential schools, and sexual abuse among Indigenous youth in Prince George and Vancouver.
Those whose parents and relatives were involved in the residential school tragedy experience incredibly high rates of sexual abuse. Of the 543 participants studied, 48% reported experiencing sexual abuse, 69% of these abused participants were female, and the median age of abuse was six years old (Pearce et al., 2008).
Those with Disabilities
Those with a disability, any impairment to body function, structure or mental functioning(CDC, 2020) also experience a high rate of sexual assault (Government of Canada and Cotter, 2021).
Interestingly, those of a visible minority (persons other than aboriginal peoples, who are a non-caucasian race or non-white) have not reported higher instances of sexual assault than non-minority individuals.
In Canada, 19% of women who are visible minorities have been sexually assaulted since age 15, significantly less than not visible minority women (33%) (Government Canada, 2024). Obtaining accurate information about the occurrence of sexual assault is difficult. Sexual assault is the most underreported crime.
According to (Annelies, 2023), most victims will choose not to report because:
- They feel that the crime was too minor.
- They feel that the incident was insignificant or that there was no physical harm.
- They do not want the hassle of dealing with the police
- They feel the incident was private or personal
- They fear not being taken seriously or believed
- They do not trust the police or criminal justice system
- They are unsure if what happened to them was genuinely sexual assault
It is crucial that we recognize and challenge victim blaming and that we hold perpetrators accountable.
References
- Annelies. (2023, January 17). Statistics: Sexual Violence in Canada – OCRCC. OCRCC – Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
https://sexualassaultsupport.ca/statistics-sexual-violence-in-canada/
- CDC. (2020, September 15). Disability and Health Overview | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Government Canada. (2024, March 20). What is gender-based violence? Www.canada.ca.
https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-violenc/about-gender-based-violence.html
- Government of Canada, S. C., & Cotter, A. (2021, August 25). Criminal victimization in Canada, 2019. Www150.Statcan.gc.ca.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2021001/article/00014-eng.htm
- Pearce, M. E., Christian, W. M., Patterson, K., Norris, K., Moniruzzaman, A., Craib, K. J. P., Schechter, M. T., & Spittal, P. M. (2008). The Cedar Project: Historical trauma, sexual abuse and HIV risk among young Aboriginal people who use injection and non-injection drugs in two Canadian cities. Social Science & Medicine, 66(11), 2185–2194.
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