Hong Kong’s sexual violence survivors wait 1,537 days before seeking help, study finds
RainLily publishes study covering 1,984 cases handled by NGO, with victims waiting more than four years on average before seeking help
Survivors of sexual violence in Hong Kong wait on average about four years and two months before seeking help, according to a study by an NGO, while the proportion of victims willing to report their cases to police has fallen over the past 15 years.
The study drew its data from the 1,984 sexual violence cases handled by RainLily between 2019 and 2023, as well as comparison with cases dating back to 2009.
The NGO, which published the report on Tuesday, said the number of cases it handled had increased over a 15-year period. It also noted a sharp rise in sexual violence cases over the past decade that did not involve physical contact.
Acts in the latter category included revenge porn and non-consensual public disclosure of intimate images, alongside verbal abuse and other forms of sexual violence that did not involve direct physical touch.
“Sexual violence remains serious, and has shown new trends and changes. RainLily urges society to provide resources and measures to support survivors of sexual violence,” NGO executive director Doris Chong Tsz-wai said.
The group’s report also showed victims of sexual violence on average reported their cases 1,536.8 days after the attacks took place.
