Two suspected rapes of young women in Upper Austria recently made headlines. The public discussion focused on the suspects, who are all roaming free. But what about the victims? The number of unreported rape cases is high. Many victims are hesitant to press charges, are traumatized and speechless.
After the alleged rape of a 15-year-old, the suspect (19) remains free. Just like a 14-year-old and three other youngsters (15) who allegedly raped a girl near the main train station of Linz. The police are investigating and the public prosecutor’s office is examining whether a report has been filed. On average, it takes three-quarters of a year before criminal prosecution is prosecuted.
According to experts at women’s and violence protection counseling centers, the slow-sharpening wheels of criminal prosecution are the cause of the high number of undeclared sexual assaults. Victims are uncertain about the consequences of a report, such as the duration, the burden and the outcome of a criminal case. In addition, there is the great shock after the crime, which makes the victim hesitate. For example with very young victims. In 2019, 912 rapes were reported in Austria, but only 98 perpetrators were convicted.
Some women just don’t want to be a victim
Eva Schuh of the Upper Austrian Violence Protection Center: “In my opinion, one of the reasons for the high number of unreported cases is that rape is a topic associated with shame. Many women also do not want to be a victim. They find it very difficult to talk about what has been done to them. Traumatic experiences leave you speechless. They should talk about it when they report it.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
