What the evidence reveals about false reporting, underreporting, and the barriers to justice.
When someone reports a robbery, burglary, or assault, investigators generally begin by examining the evidence. The victim is rarely expected to prove they are telling the truth before the investigation begins.
Yet sexual assault is too often treated differently.
Instead of being met with support, many survivors encounter doubt before their evidence is even considered. Questions such as “Are you sure?”, “Why didn’t you report sooner?”, or “What were you wearing?” reflect a double standard that continues to shape public attitudes and justice systems around the world.
The evidence tells a different story.
Research consistently shows that false reports of sexual assault are uncommon. A meta-analysis of police-recorded cases published in Archives of Sexual Behavior found that confirmed false reports account for approximately 5% of reported cases. Similarly, the End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) reports that the most rigorous studies estimate false reporting rates between 2% and 8%, figures that are comparable to those for other crimes.
Yet sexual assault remains one of the few crimes where the possibility of a false report often shapes the initial response.
The far greater challenge is not false reporting. It is underreporting.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in three women globally, an estimated 840 million women and girls, have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime.
Despite this staggering prevalence, many survivors never report because they fear they will not be believed, fear retaliation, or lack confidence in the justice system. These barriers continue to prevent millions from accessing protection and support.
Kenya reflects many of the same challenges
UN Women estimates that approximately 23% of women aged 15–49 experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the previous year. Yet sexual violence remains significantly underreported. Many survivors do not report because of stigma, fear of retaliation, lack of confidence in the justice system, and concerns that they will not be believed or treated with dignity.
For those who do seek help, the journey can be equally challenging. Research published in BMC Public Health found that many survivors in Kenya either do not access healthcare, present too late to receive critical interventions such as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, or face gaps in treatment due to inadequate resources, limited staff training, and poor coordination between health and justice services.
Studies have also highlighted barriers within the criminal justice process, including inconsistent reporting procedures, lack of privacy at some police stations, challenges in collecting forensic evidence, and lengthy case processing, all of which can discourage survivors from pursuing justice.
Strengthening public trust therefore requires more than stronger laws. It requires survivor-centered policing, timely access to healthcare, trauma-informed services, and coordinated justice systems that respond with professionalism, compassion, and accountability.
These barriers mirror those seen globally, where fear, stigma, and systemic challenges continue to prevent many survivors from seeking justice.
This is not only a survivor issue. It is a public safety issue. When survivors lose confidence in reporting systems, communities lose opportunities to identify offenders, prevent repeat violence, and strengthen accountability.
The consequences of disbelief extend beyond individual survivors. They also affect public confidence in reporting systems and the effectiveness of criminal investigations.
When survivors anticipate judgment instead of support, they are less likely to disclose abuse, seek healthcare, report to police, or participate in investigations. This can weaken accountability, reduce opportunities for successful investigations, and allow perpetrators to evade justice.
The World Health Organization’s RESPECT Women framework identifies survivor-centered services, community engagement, and strengthened justice systems as essential components of preventing violence against women. Likewise, the Sexual Violence Research Initiative emphasizes that trauma-informed, evidence-based responses improve survivor wellbeing while strengthening investigations and long-term prevention efforts.
This is where the conversation needs to change.
Supporting survivors does not mean abandoning due process. It means ensuring investigations begin with professionalism, impartiality, and evidence rather than assumptions or stereotypes. This approach is reflected in guidance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), both of which promote survivor-centered, evidence-based investigations.
Law enforcement agencies themselves recognize the importance of evidence-based investigations. The FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System was developed to improve the quality and accuracy of crime reporting, while the Uniform Crime Reporting Program provides standardized crime data to guide investigations and policy. Effective policing depends on following evidence wherever it leads, not beginning with assumptions about credibility.
Changing this culture requires more than policy reform alone.
It requires challenging the myths that discourage survivors from speaking out. It requires educating communities about trauma and disclosure. It requires media reporting that reflects evidence rather than stereotypes. Most importantly, it requires institutions to create environments where survivors are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
What Can We Do?
Creating a more just and survivor-centered response requires action from all of us. We can start by:
- Challenging myths about sexual assault reporting.
- Listening without judgment when someone discloses abuse.
- Supporting trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses.
- Promoting evidence-based investigations that focus on offender behavior.
- Advocating for systems that prioritize dignity, fairness, and accountability.
At Safe Speaks, we believe every survivor deserves to be heard with dignity, compassion, and respect. Building trust is not simply about encouraging reporting. It is about creating systems where survivors know they will be treated fairly, investigations are guided by evidence, and justice remains the goal.
False reports exist across every category of crime. Sexual assault should not be the exception when it comes to how we treat those who come forward.
The real challenge is not the small number of false reports. It is the countless survivors who remain silent because they fear they will not be believed.
If we are committed to preventing sexual violence and strengthening access to justice, we must replace suspicion with evidence, myths with facts, and silence with support. Every survivor who comes forward deserves to be met not with doubt, but with dignity, fairness, and a genuine opportunity to be heard.
If you know someone who may be experiencing gender-based violence, share with them the contact information for a national hotline or support organization in their country. One small act of care can be the start of a safer future.
