RAPES THAT GO UNNOTICED HERE AND EVERYWHERE

Imagine how many rapes really take place in these 'glorious destinations'??? There are no statistics available in Aruba...only the 4-5 rapes they claim.

The FBI estimates that only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police. U.S. Justice Department statistics are even lower, with only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes being reported to law enforcement officials. In 1994-1995, only 251,560 rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials -- less than one in every three. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996).

• One of every four rapes take place in a public area.

• 31% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.
  

• About 81% of rape victims are white.

• At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• 7.7% of college men reported perpetrating aggressive behavior which met the legal definition of rape
  

• Risk factors for perpetrating sexual violence include: early sexual experience (both forced and voluntary), adherence by men to sex role stereotyping, negative attitudes of men towards women (misogyny), alcohol consumption, acceptance of rape myths by men

Silent Victims

One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by victims for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant.

• In 1999, only 28% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials - fewer than one in every three [1999 NCVS]
  

The Punishment

• 72% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Those rapists, of course, never serve a day in prison. [1999 NCVS]
  

• If the rape is reported to police, there is a 50.8% chance that an arrest will be made
  

• If an arrest is made, there is an 80% chance of prosecution
  

• If there is a prosecution, there is a 58% chance of a felony conviction
  

• If there is a felony conviction, there is a 69% chance the convict will spend time in jail
  

• So, even in those 28% of rapes that are reported to police, there is only a 16.3% chance the rapist will end up in prison

• Factoring in unreported rapes, about 5% - one out of twenty - of rapists will ever spend a day in jail. 19 out of 20 will walk free.

What also needs to be discussed with women going overseas, even to a vacation resort, is the perception of American women, courtesy of Hollywood. Which is this: they're easy. European men see American women on vacation. In a place like Aruba, it's even worse. So they expect American women are easy targets, and even better, they don't hang around, so if there are any "accidents", they deal with them at home.

Concern over trafficking in women for prostitution is on the rise. The Dutch Foundation
Against Trafficking in Women estimates that each year around 1,000 women are brought into
the Netherlands for purposes of prostitution. The International Organization for Migration
collected data on 155 women brought from Eastern and Central Europe to the Netherlands in
1994 and found that over 95 percent had become trapped in prostitution. Women who are forced to work illegally as prostitutes have special exemptions in immigration law and receive counseling and legal assistance. In June the Dutch Society of Attorneys General issued new guidelines for prosecutors to improve enforcement of the existing law against trafficking in women.