Latest items for LRW-PRACTICE-2
May 24, 2026, 11:18 a.m.
Countries: Belarus
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Women are disproportionately affected by the severe clampdown on human rights in Belarus, where the authorities have been flagrantly disregarding the country’s human rights obligations ahead of the August 2020 presidential election. Women are subjected to gender-based stereotyping and discrimination grounded in patriarchal notions of gender roles which present them as 'vulnerable' and 'weak', deny them control over their bodies and reductively frame them in caring or parental roles and responsibilities. It is also evident in the run-up to the August presidential election that women are often targeted by the authorities in gender-specific ways" (para 1). Patriarchal gender stereotypes and gender-specific targeting by authorities can create barriers to reporting sexual...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Women are disproportionately affected by the severe clampdown on human rights in Belarus, where the authorities have been flagrantly disregarding the country’s human rights obligations ahead of the August 2020 presidential election. Women are subjected to gender-based stereotyping and discrimination grounded in patriarchal notions of gender roles which present them as 'vulnerable' and 'weak', deny them control over their bodies and reductively frame them in caring or parental roles and responsibilities. It is also evident in the run-up to the August presidential election that women are often targeted by the authorities in gender-specific ways" (para 1). Patriarchal gender stereotypes and gender-specific targeting by authorities can create barriers to reporting sexual...more
May 24, 2026, 11:07 a.m.
Countries: Belarus
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Authorities in Belarus are using a variety of stratagems to thwart fair investigations into hundreds of complaints of violence and acts of torture by security forces following disputed presidential elections, says a report published today by two human rights groups, the Committee Against Torture (CAT Russia) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)... Some of the survivors also report sexual abuse or threats of a sexual nature and humiliation" (para 1-3). When authorities are accused of actively thwarting investigations into violence, torture, and sexual abuse complaints, survivors may believe that reporting assault will not lead to accountability or protection. The reference to sexual abuse, threats of a sexual nature, and...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Authorities in Belarus are using a variety of stratagems to thwart fair investigations into hundreds of complaints of violence and acts of torture by security forces following disputed presidential elections, says a report published today by two human rights groups, the Committee Against Torture (CAT Russia) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)... Some of the survivors also report sexual abuse or threats of a sexual nature and humiliation" (para 1-3). When authorities are accused of actively thwarting investigations into violence, torture, and sexual abuse complaints, survivors may believe that reporting assault will not lead to accountability or protection. The reference to sexual abuse, threats of a sexual nature, and...more
May 24, 2026, 10:53 a.m.
Countries: Belarus
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"'Insatiable in their intention to silence their political opponents and any form of dissent, the Belarusian authorities are wheeling out practices that smack of misogyny. They are deliberately targeting women involved in politics or female family members of political activists, including with open discrimination and threats of sexual violence,' said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director... Women also face disproportionate and politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment and reprisals in Belarus today" (para 3-4). Survivors may avoid reporting rape because they do not trust authorities to protect them and may instead fear intimidation, humiliation, retaliation, or further violence imposed by the Belarusian police (LEN - CODER COMMENT)....more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"'Insatiable in their intention to silence their political opponents and any form of dissent, the Belarusian authorities are wheeling out practices that smack of misogyny. They are deliberately targeting women involved in politics or female family members of political activists, including with open discrimination and threats of sexual violence,' said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director... Women also face disproportionate and politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment and reprisals in Belarus today" (para 3-4). Survivors may avoid reporting rape because they do not trust authorities to protect them and may instead fear intimidation, humiliation, retaliation, or further violence imposed by the Belarusian police (LEN - CODER COMMENT)....more
May 23, 2026, 2:44 p.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Article 334 of the penal code reduces the penalties for perpetrators of so-called honor crimes" (para 21). This discourages survivors from reporting sexual violence because these reduced sentences reinforce cultural ideas that sexual violence brings shame upon a family rather than focusing on harm done to the victim (LEN - CODER COMMENT).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Article 334 of the penal code reduces the penalties for perpetrators of so-called honor crimes" (para 21). This discourages survivors from reporting sexual violence because these reduced sentences reinforce cultural ideas that sexual violence brings shame upon a family rather than focusing on harm done to the victim (LEN - CODER COMMENT).
May 23, 2026, 2:12 p.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Bahrain’s penal code criminalizes adultery and sexual relations outside marriage, a violation of the right to privacy which disproportionately harms women and migrant women. Women who are pregnant outside marriage, as well as women who report rape, can find themselves prosecuted for consensual extramarital sex" (para 31).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Bahrain’s penal code criminalizes adultery and sexual relations outside marriage, a violation of the right to privacy which disproportionately harms women and migrant women. Women who are pregnant outside marriage, as well as women who report rape, can find themselves prosecuted for consensual extramarital sex" (para 31).
May 23, 2026, 1:29 p.m.
Countries: Barbados
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Child Rights defender Faith Marshall-Harris is concerned with the level of underreporting of incidents of statutory rape occurring in Barbados, which in some instances leads to pregnancy. She has founded a helpline where instances of child abuse can be reported, and says some people contact the helpline but back out or withhold information when attempts are made to get the authorities involved. She’s also concerned about delays with cases before the court" (para 1-5).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Child Rights defender Faith Marshall-Harris is concerned with the level of underreporting of incidents of statutory rape occurring in Barbados, which in some instances leads to pregnancy. She has founded a helpline where instances of child abuse can be reported, and says some people contact the helpline but back out or withhold information when attempts are made to get the authorities involved. She’s also concerned about delays with cases before the court" (para 1-5).
May 23, 2026, 11:36 a.m.
Countries: Barbados
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"There is no risk for you in reporting the crime to the local police. In December 2022, a court ruling in Barbados decriminalised ‘buggery’ [a British legal term for sodomy] but attitudes remain conservative" (para 11-12).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"There is no risk for you in reporting the crime to the local police. In December 2022, a court ruling in Barbados decriminalised ‘buggery’ [a British legal term for sodomy] but attitudes remain conservative" (para 11-12).
May 20, 2026, 3:34 p.m.
Countries: Taiwan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2, IIP-PRACTICE-2
"According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while there were 17,000 sexual assaults reported in 2022, there were just 2,100 incidents of sexual harassment. Experts say people are unwilling to come forward with reports of harassment where any ambiguity might exist" (para 23).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2, IIP-PRACTICE-2
"According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while there were 17,000 sexual assaults reported in 2022, there were just 2,100 incidents of sexual harassment. Experts say people are unwilling to come forward with reports of harassment where any ambiguity might exist" (para 23).
April 28, 2026, 9:52 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Ms Brook said she had been continuously singled out for speaking up and that her experience in the fleet destroyed her mental health, ultimately resulting in the mistakes that eventually ended her career" (Para 25). "I held secret meetings in hotel suites and hushed phone calls with sources who were terrified but desperate to speak" (Para 29). This suggests there are taboos against talking about or report sexual assult (JS-CODER COMMENT). "The problems were systemic – entrenched in the culture and often fiercely protected from scrutiny. The Navy seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to throw me off naming the senior officers implicated" (Para 31). "The senior officer involved was...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Ms Brook said she had been continuously singled out for speaking up and that her experience in the fleet destroyed her mental health, ultimately resulting in the mistakes that eventually ended her career" (Para 25). "I held secret meetings in hotel suites and hushed phone calls with sources who were terrified but desperate to speak" (Para 29). This suggests there are taboos against talking about or report sexual assult (JS-CODER COMMENT). "The problems were systemic – entrenched in the culture and often fiercely protected from scrutiny. The Navy seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to throw me off naming the senior officers implicated" (Para 31). "The senior officer involved was...more
April 28, 2026, 7:20 p.m.
Countries: Papua New Guinea
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"while there are many Pacific women and organisations working to address gender-based violence, tackling the issue is daunting — the scale is immense, and the causes multifaceted" (Para 24).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"while there are many Pacific women and organisations working to address gender-based violence, tackling the issue is daunting — the scale is immense, and the causes multifaceted" (Para 24).
April 28, 2026, 3:57 p.m.
Countries: United States
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"She admits that the fact he’s never hit her has made everything more confusing...Mariana appears to have a ‘beautiful life’ — married to a successful, celebrated, and good-looking man no one would ever suspect is violent" (Para 6). This suggests people don't usually believe someone who doesn't fit a certain image could be an abuser (CODER COMMENT-JS). "[C]ultural phenomena such as familismo and marianismo, along with a rigid adherence to certain Catholic values, often pressure survivors to stay silent and endure the violence" (Para 19). A big part of their culture is family roles and the idea that women take after the Virgin Mary and are always nurturing, self-sacrificing, and...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"She admits that the fact he’s never hit her has made everything more confusing...Mariana appears to have a ‘beautiful life’ — married to a successful, celebrated, and good-looking man no one would ever suspect is violent" (Para 6). This suggests people don't usually believe someone who doesn't fit a certain image could be an abuser (CODER COMMENT-JS). "[C]ultural phenomena such as familismo and marianismo, along with a rigid adherence to certain Catholic values, often pressure survivors to stay silent and endure the violence" (Para 19). A big part of their culture is family roles and the idea that women take after the Virgin Mary and are always nurturing, self-sacrificing, and...more
April 10, 2026, 1:55 p.m.
Countries: Bangladesh
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The first law to be amended was the Women and Children Repression Prevention Ordinance.. 'To ensure speedy trial and punishment of rape suspects, this reform was necessary. It will also help in ensuring proper investigation,' Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary of the chief adviser, told Arab News. The new law reduces the investigation period of rape cases from 30 days to 15 days and the time for completing the trial from 180 days to 90 days. Under the law, a special tribunal will be dedicated to handling child rape cases. Judges will also be allowed to proceed with trials based on medical certificates and circumstantial evidence, without requiring DNA tests,...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The first law to be amended was the Women and Children Repression Prevention Ordinance.. 'To ensure speedy trial and punishment of rape suspects, this reform was necessary. It will also help in ensuring proper investigation,' Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary of the chief adviser, told Arab News. The new law reduces the investigation period of rape cases from 30 days to 15 days and the time for completing the trial from 180 days to 90 days. Under the law, a special tribunal will be dedicated to handling child rape cases. Judges will also be allowed to proceed with trials based on medical certificates and circumstantial evidence, without requiring DNA tests,...more
April 10, 2026, 1:15 p.m.
Countries: Bangladesh
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"[M]ost survivors face significant hurdles to reporting and accountability. Bangladeshi women and children who are victims of sexual assault face widespread social stigmatization, threats, and a systematic barring of access to justice and accountability. Survivors of sexual assault who go to the police often face reluctance to file cases, gender-based bias, victim-blaming, and humiliation. Minimal access to legal aid, medical care, safe shelter, witness protection, or psychological and social counseling characterizes Bangladesh's typical response to assault survivors. Additionally, the Bangladesh government has yet to pass long promised and expected sexual harassment and witness protection laws" (para 3).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"[M]ost survivors face significant hurdles to reporting and accountability. Bangladeshi women and children who are victims of sexual assault face widespread social stigmatization, threats, and a systematic barring of access to justice and accountability. Survivors of sexual assault who go to the police often face reluctance to file cases, gender-based bias, victim-blaming, and humiliation. Minimal access to legal aid, medical care, safe shelter, witness protection, or psychological and social counseling characterizes Bangladesh's typical response to assault survivors. Additionally, the Bangladesh government has yet to pass long promised and expected sexual harassment and witness protection laws" (para 3).
April 6, 2026, 12:22 p.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Bahrain is a Muslim country and as such there are several things to note when reporting a rape and/or sexual assault to the police. Sexual relationships outside of marriage are illegal. Therefore, the biggest risk for a survivor who chooses to report a rape and/or sexual assault to the police is the perpetrator filing a counter-claim against them. Homosexuality is not actually a crime in the Bahrain penal code, but you should be prepared to face officers who may respond as if it is. Drinking alcohol is not a crime, but blatant public intoxication is. Regarding Muslims, a harsher punishment is not applicable and they will be dealt with in...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Bahrain is a Muslim country and as such there are several things to note when reporting a rape and/or sexual assault to the police. Sexual relationships outside of marriage are illegal. Therefore, the biggest risk for a survivor who chooses to report a rape and/or sexual assault to the police is the perpetrator filing a counter-claim against them. Homosexuality is not actually a crime in the Bahrain penal code, but you should be prepared to face officers who may respond as if it is. Drinking alcohol is not a crime, but blatant public intoxication is. Regarding Muslims, a harsher punishment is not applicable and they will be dealt with in...more
April 6, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
Countries: Argentina
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The unit said that information gathering about sexual violence had improved and that government messaging had helped 'reduce the under-reporting of cases,' particularly in the capital. Calls to the government's 144 gender violence hotline rose substantially over the study’s five-year period, rising from 33,000 consultations in 2016 to more than 110,000 in recent years. Nevertheless, UFEM stressed, surveys of victims showed that 'sexual violence is a widespread phenomenon,' and that many did not come forward to denounce crimes. Studies at a national level showed that 'around 20 percent of women report having suffered some episode of sexual violence during their adult life,' but that '88 percent did not make any...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The unit said that information gathering about sexual violence had improved and that government messaging had helped 'reduce the under-reporting of cases,' particularly in the capital. Calls to the government's 144 gender violence hotline rose substantially over the study’s five-year period, rising from 33,000 consultations in 2016 to more than 110,000 in recent years. Nevertheless, UFEM stressed, surveys of victims showed that 'sexual violence is a widespread phenomenon,' and that many did not come forward to denounce crimes. Studies at a national level showed that 'around 20 percent of women report having suffered some episode of sexual violence during their adult life,' but that '88 percent did not make any...more
April 1, 2026, 7:28 p.m.
Countries: Sudan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
“UNICEF cited ‘data compiled by gender-based violence service providers in Sudan’ that showed 221 rape cases against children have been documented since the beginning of 2024. Of those, 147 were girls, meaning 33 percent of rape victims were boys. Sixteen of the survivors were under five years of age and four of them were only one year old. ‘These figures represent only a small fraction of total cases. Survivors and their families are often unwilling or unable to come forward due to challenges accessing services and frontline workers, fear of the stigma they could face, the fear of rejection from their family or community, the fear of retribution from armed...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
“UNICEF cited ‘data compiled by gender-based violence service providers in Sudan’ that showed 221 rape cases against children have been documented since the beginning of 2024. Of those, 147 were girls, meaning 33 percent of rape victims were boys. Sixteen of the survivors were under five years of age and four of them were only one year old. ‘These figures represent only a small fraction of total cases. Survivors and their families are often unwilling or unable to come forward due to challenges accessing services and frontline workers, fear of the stigma they could face, the fear of rejection from their family or community, the fear of retribution from armed...more
March 27, 2026, 10:01 a.m.
Countries: Argentina
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"There were anecdotal reports of police or judicial reluctance to act on rape cases; women’s rights advocates alleged the attitudes of police, hospitals, and courts toward survivors of sexual violence sometimes victimized them again, often by forcing them to recount details of their trauma, conflating silence with consent, or admitting as evidence their past sexual history" (15).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"There were anecdotal reports of police or judicial reluctance to act on rape cases; women’s rights advocates alleged the attitudes of police, hospitals, and courts toward survivors of sexual violence sometimes victimized them again, often by forcing them to recount details of their trauma, conflating silence with consent, or admitting as evidence their past sexual history" (15).
March 26, 2026, 5:31 p.m.
Countries: Algeria
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The cases of rape of women in the Tindouf refugee camps remain one of the major taboos ignored and avoided since the creation of these camps. Hundreds of women have been raped by Frente Polisario officials, repeatedly and for long periods of time, which attests to the systematic nature of these practices that have not been, unfortunately, brought to light during all this time in order to put an end to them on the part of the Algerian state, which bears full responsibility for what falls within its territorial perimeter" (2).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The cases of rape of women in the Tindouf refugee camps remain one of the major taboos ignored and avoided since the creation of these camps. Hundreds of women have been raped by Frente Polisario officials, repeatedly and for long periods of time, which attests to the systematic nature of these practices that have not been, unfortunately, brought to light during all this time in order to put an end to them on the part of the Algerian state, which bears full responsibility for what falls within its territorial perimeter" (2).
March 24, 2026, 7:20 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"According to the sources, a document was then prepared stating that the woman [Iranian female nurse who was gang raped during the country's uprisings in early January] had entered into a temporary marriage with one of the agents, a step described as intended to create the conditions for her release. She was also required to sign a pledge stating that after her release she would declare that she had been abused and raped by 'rioters,' the sources said" (para 17-18). This information shows that authorities forced the victim to sign a pledge falsely attributing the rape to rioters. This demonstrates coercion and barriers preventing accurate reporting of sexual violence, hence...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"According to the sources, a document was then prepared stating that the woman [Iranian female nurse who was gang raped during the country's uprisings in early January] had entered into a temporary marriage with one of the agents, a step described as intended to create the conditions for her release. She was also required to sign a pledge stating that after her release she would declare that she had been abused and raped by 'rioters,' the sources said" (para 17-18). This information shows that authorities forced the victim to sign a pledge falsely attributing the rape to rioters. This demonstrates coercion and barriers preventing accurate reporting of sexual violence, hence...more
March 22, 2026, 7:01 p.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"'[T]he Mayor [of London] has prioritised a new comprehensive 10-point plan to tackle offending and fund new free independent legal advice for survivors of rape and serious sexual offences so that they can receive the vital support they need and deserve. And is supporting the ‘New Met for London’ plan, to overhaul the way the force deals with offences involving women and girls. This includes providing better training for officers, more resources for specialist investigative teams and focused action on the worst offenders so we can build a safer London for all' [said a spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan]" (para 36-37).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"'[T]he Mayor [of London] has prioritised a new comprehensive 10-point plan to tackle offending and fund new free independent legal advice for survivors of rape and serious sexual offences so that they can receive the vital support they need and deserve. And is supporting the ‘New Met for London’ plan, to overhaul the way the force deals with offences involving women and girls. This includes providing better training for officers, more resources for specialist investigative teams and focused action on the worst offenders so we can build a safer London for all' [said a spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan]" (para 36-37).
March 21, 2026, 6:07 p.m.
Countries: Algeria
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Lemaadla Mohamed Salem Zrug of Association Sahraouie contre l’Impunité dans les Camps de Tindouf told the Committee that her father was tortured to death by the Frente POLISARIO. 'There has been no human right that has not been violated against women' in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, she said, pointing to human trafficking, forced marriage and rape" (para 3).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Lemaadla Mohamed Salem Zrug of Association Sahraouie contre l’Impunité dans les Camps de Tindouf told the Committee that her father was tortured to death by the Frente POLISARIO. 'There has been no human right that has not been violated against women' in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, she said, pointing to human trafficking, forced marriage and rape" (para 3).
March 21, 2026, 5:47 p.m.
Countries: Algeria
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Spanish NGO 'The Altamirano Foundation' has sounded the alarm over the serious violations of the rights of women and children in the camps of Tindouf, southwestern Algeria, in a report submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. In a scathing report, based on field investigations, testimonies, and medical analyses, the Foundation paints a grim picture: widespread malnutrition, lack of healthcare, exploitation, forced military conscription of minors, and sexual violence" (para 1-2).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Spanish NGO 'The Altamirano Foundation' has sounded the alarm over the serious violations of the rights of women and children in the camps of Tindouf, southwestern Algeria, in a report submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. In a scathing report, based on field investigations, testimonies, and medical analyses, the Foundation paints a grim picture: widespread malnutrition, lack of healthcare, exploitation, forced military conscription of minors, and sexual violence" (para 1-2).
March 13, 2026, 1:28 p.m.
Countries: Poland
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"This poor conviction rate, along with the weak sentences handed down to rapists, is believed to discourage many victims of sexual violence from reporting the crimes. Today, in Poland many women are afraid of going to the police to report rape because they know that they will have to answer questions about whether they screamed or tried to fight. Women have to prove that they actively resisted. This is humiliating, and I think it makes it even harder for women to report rapes and seek justice, says Dorota Olko, spokesperson for New Left" (para 15-16).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"This poor conviction rate, along with the weak sentences handed down to rapists, is believed to discourage many victims of sexual violence from reporting the crimes. Today, in Poland many women are afraid of going to the police to report rape because they know that they will have to answer questions about whether they screamed or tried to fight. Women have to prove that they actively resisted. This is humiliating, and I think it makes it even harder for women to report rapes and seek justice, says Dorota Olko, spokesperson for New Left" (para 15-16).
March 11, 2026, 12:45 p.m.
Countries: Sudan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"When her [Jamila, 40-year-old Sudanese woman in Libya with her family] daughters were raped the first time, Jamila took them to hospital and reported it to police. But when the police officer realised they were refugees, Jamila says he withdrew the report and warned her that she would be jailed if the complaint was officially filed. This was in the west of Libya" (para 36).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"When her [Jamila, 40-year-old Sudanese woman in Libya with her family] daughters were raped the first time, Jamila took them to hospital and reported it to police. But when the police officer realised they were refugees, Jamila says he withdrew the report and warned her that she would be jailed if the complaint was officially filed. This was in the west of Libya" (para 36).
March 9, 2026, 5:36 p.m.
Countries: Afghanistan
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"We [the author along with other Afghan women] used to have access to a nationwide network of shelters and services for those facing sex-based violence, including legal representation, medical care, and psychosocial support. And it served thousands of women and girls each year. As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, this system collapsed" (para 30). This information shows that in the past, the existance of shelters, medical care, etc. for the sexual violence victims in Afghanistan could help with the decrease of 'taboo mentality' in reporting it. However, such institutions collapsed with the return of the Taliban, which means the victims are caing significant taboos in reporting sexual violence (MR-CODER...more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"We [the author along with other Afghan women] used to have access to a nationwide network of shelters and services for those facing sex-based violence, including legal representation, medical care, and psychosocial support. And it served thousands of women and girls each year. As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, this system collapsed" (para 30). This information shows that in the past, the existance of shelters, medical care, etc. for the sexual violence victims in Afghanistan could help with the decrease of 'taboo mentality' in reporting it. However, such institutions collapsed with the return of the Taliban, which means the victims are caing significant taboos in reporting sexual violence (MR-CODER...more
March 1, 2026, 8:52 p.m.
Countries: Ukraine
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"For Ukraine, the sexual violence is a largely hidden trauma. Advocates say many women are reluctant to file cases [of rape by Russian soldiers] because they want to avoid stigma and painful memories, or because they live in territory that remains occupied by Russia and have little hope of legal redress. Some women have broken the cycle of silence, helped by survivor groups, or motivated to shed light on what they call atrocities that Russia has used as a weapon of war" (para 6-7).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"For Ukraine, the sexual violence is a largely hidden trauma. Advocates say many women are reluctant to file cases [of rape by Russian soldiers] because they want to avoid stigma and painful memories, or because they live in territory that remains occupied by Russia and have little hope of legal redress. Some women have broken the cycle of silence, helped by survivor groups, or motivated to shed light on what they call atrocities that Russia has used as a weapon of war" (para 6-7).
Feb. 25, 2026, 8:17 a.m.
Countries: United Kingdom
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Of victims who experienced sexual assault by rape or penetration (including attempts) since the age of 16 years:...around 1 in 7 (14.7%) reported the assault to the police and, of those that told someone but not the police, 38.5% did not think the police could help, 35.3% stated embarrassment as a reason for not reporting, and 30.5% thought it would be humiliating" (3).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"Of victims who experienced sexual assault by rape or penetration (including attempts) since the age of 16 years:...around 1 in 7 (14.7%) reported the assault to the police and, of those that told someone but not the police, 38.5% did not think the police could help, 35.3% stated embarrassment as a reason for not reporting, and 30.5% thought it would be humiliating" (3).
Feb. 25, 2026, 7:50 a.m.
Countries: Argentina
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The gender-based violence hotline “144” reduced its staff by 42% and the Acompañar programme, which aims to strengthen the economic independence of individuals experiencing gender-based violence, had reduced its reach by 98.63% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023" (2). While the "144" hotline is not specified to also provide support to those who have been victimized by sexual assault, the reduction of the hotline and the Acompañar programme indicate a general shift away from support for female victims of gendered violence (NAC - CODER COMMENT).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"The gender-based violence hotline “144” reduced its staff by 42% and the Acompañar programme, which aims to strengthen the economic independence of individuals experiencing gender-based violence, had reduced its reach by 98.63% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023" (2). While the "144" hotline is not specified to also provide support to those who have been victimized by sexual assault, the reduction of the hotline and the Acompañar programme indicate a general shift away from support for female victims of gendered violence (NAC - CODER COMMENT).
Feb. 22, 2026, 12:15 p.m.
Countries: Haiti
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"MSF [the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres] said its clinic is struggling to find shelters willing to accept patients, and it noted that women with children or those who are pregnant or need medical care are often rejected. 'The lack of available services leaves survivors exposed to the same risks that led to their initial trauma,' MSF said. 'Without safe shelter or relocation options, MSF discharges its patients straight back into the nightmare they came from, just to see them return another day after being violated again'" (para 17-18). "Fear over reporting sexual abuse cases persists because of ongoing stigma and a lack of faith in Haiti's police and justice system....more
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"MSF [the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres] said its clinic is struggling to find shelters willing to accept patients, and it noted that women with children or those who are pregnant or need medical care are often rejected. 'The lack of available services leaves survivors exposed to the same risks that led to their initial trauma,' MSF said. 'Without safe shelter or relocation options, MSF discharges its patients straight back into the nightmare they came from, just to see them return another day after being violated again'" (para 17-18). "Fear over reporting sexual abuse cases persists because of ongoing stigma and a lack of faith in Haiti's police and justice system....more
Feb. 17, 2026, 9:26 a.m.
Countries: Albania
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"GREVIO is seriously concerned that the number of reported cases of rape in Albania is extremely low. This raises serious concerns that women who are victims of rape face serious barriers to reporting the crime to law enforcement or any other authority. Rape and sexual violence are associated with such stigma and shame that victims simply do not turn to the authorities for help and support" (39).
Variables: LRW-PRACTICE-2
"GREVIO is seriously concerned that the number of reported cases of rape in Albania is extremely low. This raises serious concerns that women who are victims of rape face serious barriers to reporting the crime to law enforcement or any other authority. Rape and sexual violence are associated with such stigma and shame that victims simply do not turn to the authorities for help and support" (39).