Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is recognised as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. An estimated 1 out of 3 women across the globe has experienced sexual violence. While women and girls are the majority of victims, we recognise that people of all genders (including men) can be subjected to sexual violence. Gender-based violence is a deeply ingrained structural and systemic issue rooted in harmful gendered social norms and unequal power dynamics that harm everyone. It is a public health issue, a human rights issue and an issue that needs urgent attention and concerted action.

In Hong Kong, sexual violence continues to be a pervasive, deeply concerning problem. The Government noted a sharp rise in reported cases of rape and indecent assault for 2021, of 23% (79 cases) and 49% (1,018) respectively. Of these, 39% and 30% involved victims under the age of 16. There was also a concerning 29% increase in victims having met their perpetrator online.

But we know this is only a small snapshot of a much larger issue. A recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong Coalition on Women’s Equal Opportunities found that 37.5% of women had experienced sexual violence in her lifetime, the majority by someone they know. The overwhelming majority of perpetrators (92%) were men and the most common form experienced was the discussion of sexual topics that caused discomfort (28.9%). Among respondents, the most serious sexual violence incident ever experienced was non-penetrative sexual assault (38.24%), followed by penetrative sexual assault (16.34%).

Three-quarters of respondents did not react when the incident occurred, many cited not knowing how to react, pretending nothing happened, or feeling forced to accept it. While many sought help later, the majority through family or friends, 40% did not report due to feeling embarrassed, not knowing where to report or simply not having the energy to deal with it. Many respondents interviewed suffered psychological stress and trauma because of stigma and shame as well as obstacles to getting the help they need, among other reasons.

These are highly worrying statistics. And action needs to be taken by all of us to tackle this complex issue.

At TWF, tackling sexual violence in all forms is an issue we prioritise and care about deeply. Our #MakePeopleCount campaign (launched in 2020, reaching over 1.7 million people) continues to serve as a foundation for our ongoing advocacy to government, businesses and the general public. To meaningfully address sexual violence, Hong Kong needs wholesale strategic reform – this includes the adoption of critical updates to the law for substantive sexual offences proposed by the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission. We need updates to our education system on how it teaches concepts like gender-based violence and consent. Technology companies, governments and other stakeholders need to work together to curb growing and increasingly insidious forms of sexual violence online. As individuals, we can work to dispel harmful social norms around victim-blaming and shaming, and educate ourselves on how to support someone who has experienced sexual violence and be knowledgeable around resources for legal and psychological help when needed.

Let’s use this month to propel us all into taking actions to build a safe city for everyone.

Get in touch at Fiona.Nott@twfhk.org.

2022

Written by

The Women's Foundation

Get Involved

Website Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

The Women’s Foundation (TWFHK) is committed to protecting your privacy and to ensuring that all personal data provided to us is handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO).

Purpose of collecting and keeping personal data
1. TWFHK will use personal data collected from you for the purposes for which it was collected.
2. TWFHK may use your personal data (including your name, job title, company name, contact details such as email, telephone and fax numbers, credit card or other payment details and other information collected in your profile such as the event(s) or programmes you participated in or wish to participate in, the areas of interest you indicated, reviews, feedback and opinions and any other personal data you choose to provide to us etc.) for one or more of the following purposes including, but not limited to:
(a) provision of services for donations, sponsorship, events, programmes and volunteers through this Website or any other means (including enquiries, and provision of any related payment, identification, registration, billing), administration, management and communications purposes including surveys, feedback collection and research whether via mail, electronic mail, telephone, SMS, fax or online etc.
(b) the provision of updates and direct marketing (via fax, email, direct mail, telephone or other means of communication including social media or e-newsletters) in relation to our programmes, research, courses, volunteer opportunities, workshops and events, promotions, offers, opportunities for sponsorship, networking and donations, advocacy campaigns, opinion sharing, news updates, information and other related services or benefits provided by TWFHK and/or other partners or organisations.
3. TWFHK will not collect any personal information that identifies a visitor to our website (or associated websites) (“Website”) unless specified otherwise (for example in the sign up to an e-newsletter, event registration, donation, download or access to research reports or other tools or resources). Your visit to our Website will record the server information including IP address and the pages visited. Such information will be used to prepare aggregate information about the number of visitors to the Website and general statistics on usage patterns.

Privacy of personal data and disclosure
1. Your personal data will be kept strictly confidential and securely kept.
2. TWFHK will not divulge, sell, trade or rent personal data to external parties for their own purpose.
3. However, TWFHK may disclose or transfer such personal data where such disclosure is necessary to satisfy the above purpose, or a directly related purpose, for which the data was collected (including without limitation debt collection or payment services, telecommunications. IT and computer services, marketing, communications, distribution or other services), to:
(a) any third party service provider and any other person under a duty of confidentiality to TWFHK including without limitation, TWFHK staff, agents and other organisations which have undertaken to keep such information confidential; and
(b) any person or entity to whom TWFHK is under an obligation to make disclosure under laws or guidelines issued by regulatory or other authorities.

Access and correction of personal data
1. The provision of your personal data to TWFHK is on voluntary basis.
2. In accordance with the Ordinance, you may request access to your personal data held by TWFHK. A charge may be imposed to cover the cost of photocopying personal data at the rate approved by the Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury.
3. You are entitled to request access to and correct your personal data held by TWFHK, and request us to cease to use of your personal data at any time without charge.
4. You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions contained in the marketing communications or contacting TWFHK at info@twfhk.org with your full name and contact details.
5. If you are in a EU Member State, you have the right, subject to certain limitations or restrictions, under the data protection laws in the EU to:
(a) request access to and rectification or erasure of your personal data;
(b) obtain restriction of processing or to object to processing of your personal data; and
(c) the right to data portability.
Individuals in the EU also have the right to lodge a complaint about the processing of their personal data with their local data protection authority.
6. Data access or correction requests should be addressed to us in writing to:
The Women’s Foundation
9A Chun Wo Commercial Centre,
23-29 Wing Wo Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
Telephone: +852 2592 8265
Email: info@twfhk.org

Changes in this privacy policy
TWFHK reserves the right to update, revise, modify or amend this Privacy Policy from time to time as TWFHK deems necessary so please review it frequently. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the Website. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy we will notify you here that it has been updated, so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose

Enquiries
Should you have any enquiries about TWFHK’s Privacy Policy and practices, please contact info@twfhk.org or +852 2592 8265.

May, 25 2018

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Written by

Recent Posts

Blog Archives

Get Involved

Search

Website Disclaimer