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.
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