Sexual assaults continue to go under-reported, study suggests

A new study of sexual violence in Winnipegpublic spacesconcludessexual assaults continue to be "significantly under-reported" in the Manitoba capital.

The Winnipeg Safe City ScopingStudy, published by the city-provincial Winnipeg Safe City Steering Committeeon Friday, claims there is a "decreasing number of sexual assaults being reported to police" while reports to sexual-assault crisis lines, visits to sexual-assault nurse examiners and reports of sexual assault collected by Statistics Canadaare increasing.

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For example, thestudy states 1,356 sexual assaults were reported to police in Manitobain 2015, compared to 25,000 reports of sexual assaults in this province collected by Statistics Canada's general social survey in 2014.

The study alsostatesmarginalizedwomen, including Indigenous women and recent immigrants,are even less likely to report sexual assaults. This is partly because of a historically strained relationship between the police and both Indigenous and immigrant communities.

"I think we have to give women a reason to report," said Rachel Bach, who co-ordinates a sexual-violence prevention and intervention program for non-profit organization Ka Ni Kanichihk.

"Many times when women come forward to police, it can be traumatizing. It can be a revictimization and a lot of times it doesn't go too far in the justice system. So I think we have to give women incentives to report and a reason to go."

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The study also suggested a significant number of sexual assaults in inner-city neighbourhoods took place in public spaces. Its recommendations include improving the safety of public transit.

In response, Winnipeg Transit will soon begin advertising the fact it allows any passenger to request a stop between designated bus stops after 7 p.m. This policy has been in place for 25 years, but is not widely publicized, said Coun. Cindy Gilroy(Daniel McIntyre).

As well, the city and province have published taxicab safety guides for women, in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, Arabic and Tagalog.