http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11845532
In the 12 months ending January 31 this year, 5865 people were subjected to sexual violence.
Of those, 4567 – 77.9 per cent – were women and most were aged between 15 and 19.
And remember, that’s only the reported incidents, which research suggests is only about 10 per cent of the total number of sexual violence offences occurring in our community.
Claire kept quiet about what was happening to her for years.
Like many victims, she felt ashamed, guilty, like she’d done something to deserve it.
And, she was terrified that if she did speak up – no one would believe her.
But her silence began to destroy her, and the night she had that panic attack was the start of her journey to freedom.