One in seven New Hampshire women over the age of 18 have been raped. That?s the findings of a national report released today by the New Hampshire Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Those number sounds staggering, even implausible, but as New Hampshire Public Radio?s Raquel Maria Dillon reports, those who work with rape victims aren?t surprised at all.
The report extrapolated data from two major studies by the Centers for Disease Control, and applied the national data to New Hampshire?s population.
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Executive Director Grace Maddern:
MADDERN :18 They estimate that 65000 women in NH have been forcibly raped. Not attempted, drug facilitated, unwanted touching. This is forcible penetration. At some time in their lifetimes.
Victims? advocates say that number, 13.7 percent of adult women, is a conservative estimate because it doesn?t include attempted rapes or sexual assault
New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed says sexual violence is severely underreported. He?s calling for extensive sexual assault training for state prosecutors.
HEED :13 what I can tell you is that it certainly confirms my experience. I was not surprised by these numbers, being someone who?s been involved in the criminal justice system as most people would be.
Others also say that ?one-in-seven? rings true with their experience.
FANJOY :02 this statistic really does not surprise me.
Paula Fanjoy is a nurse at Concord Hospital. She?s specially trained to treat rape victims in the Emergency Room.
FANJOY :14 we have approximately 50 cases per year that come to Concord Hospital. On a rise this year. I haven?t finished statistics yet, but we?ve had 60 cases.
Fanjoy says she might see another 50 or 60 cases next year, and the next, and that?s just counting those who go to the hospital. But Fanjoy doesn?t expect those women to talk about it openly.
FANJOY 23 sometimes this is really swept under the rug. It?s not coffee chat and people are very, very embarrassed by it. Sometimes females think that it?s their fault, that they made a poor decision.
Concord Police Chief Jerome Madden says this year in Concord alone, 53 cases of sexual violence have been reported through July.
MADDEN 31 we?re only talking about those things that are reported to us as opposed to all that happens that doesn?t get reported. I?m not shocked at the numbers, I?m disappointed.
That increase in reporting is good news to advocates. Maddern says it means that crimes can be prosecuted, and hopefully remove some of the stigma women might feel. The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is getting ready to launch a 3-year awareness campaign next Spring.
For NHPR News, I?m RMD.
