the big barrier, I think, is the scrutiny victims get subjected to. in the case of a “minor” sexual assault, where someone touches you inappropriately but it’s a one-off, or for whatever other reason not severely traumatising, the victim might be willing to report the perpetrator and follow legal process, but for a lot of sexual crimes, our justice system forces the victim to relive their traumatic experience over and over again, and often they must face their attacker, who might be someone who has repeatedly traumatised them for years, as they give testimony.

it’s no wonder so many people don’t speak up, especially when even after being tortured this way, actual justice is far from guaranteed.