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Statistics
Results of the Study on Sexual Assault in Charlevoix (2022)
In 2021-2022, as part of the organization’s 20th anniversary, the Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALACS) de Charlevoix updated the data on sexual assault in the Charlevoix territory. The last data collection dated back to 2002, just before the organization was created.
Study Objectives
Le CALACS de Charlevoix mandated the polling firm Léger to conduct a study among people living in the Charlevoix region, aged 16 or over and able to express themselves in French.
- The survey’s objectives were to:
- Paint a portrait of sexual assault victims;
- Assess the awareness of resources available to victims;
- Measure awareness of CALACS and the services offered;
- Understand the needs in terms of services and assistance to victims and make recommendations.
Method
The survey was conducted through a hybrid methodology combining online and telephone surveys. An open link was also made available to CALACS de Charlevoix.
Sample
- The representative sample consists of 500 people who responded to the hybrid survey (web or telephone), while 45 people responded through the open link.
- Data was collected from April 13 to May 5, 2023.
- A representative sample of 500 people has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%, 19 times out of 20.
Main Findings
1 Portrait of Sexual Assault Victims
34%
46%
22%
34% of respondents reported having experienced sexual assault.
46% of female respondents reported having experienced sexual assault.
22% of male respondents reported having experienced sexual assault.
46% of women reported having experienced sexual assault, which corresponds to the same statistic obtained in a survey conducted in 2002, where 2 out of 5 women had reported having experienced sexual assault in Charlevoix.
The waves of denunciation with the hashtag #metoo may have given the impression that the number of sexual assaults had increased; however, it is rather the number of disclosures that has increased. This increase in victims speaking out is mainly marked by a better understanding of what sexual assault is, greater social openness to discuss the issue, and the deconstruction of prejudices related to it.
This number may also be underestimated in this type of survey since it can be embarrassing or uncomfortable to discuss by telephone the number of sexual assaults experienced, considering that calls were made to people’s homes. Respondents may have felt uncomfortable talking about the subject in the presence of family members, for example.
These results are therefore consistent with the recommendations made in this study and reinforce the importance of prevention and awareness work in Charlevoix secondary schools. CALACS has also noted an increase in requests for help from adolescent girls aged 14 to 18.
This statistic is slightly higher than national statistics on this subject. However, this data dates from 2019, and in recent years, more awareness has been raised among men, which may also mean that they are now more ready to talk about it than before.
In both cases, more women (33%) than men (11%) say they have experienced (VH and UST).
– 48% of victims of harassment through inappropriate comments, insistent advances, or vulgar jokes experienced it more than three times in their life.
– 45% of sexual harassment cases occur in a workplace or place of study.
– Those aged 16-34 are the most likely to have received unsolicited sexual content (photos of private parts, sexually explicit videos, etc.).
– 29% of people aged 16-34 have received it compared to 9% in the general population.
2- Awareness of Resources Available to Victims
This data shows the relevance of our support service for loved ones as well as the promotion of helpful attitudes in case of disclosure, which we frequently discuss. This also relates to another recommendation made following the study, which mentions the importance of capitalizing on victims’ loved ones, as this could help better direct victims to relevant resources and ensure they are heard. Not to mention the importance of informing the population about the tools available in case of assault, such as the forensic kit (sexual assault evidence kit), which only a tiny fraction of victims know about.
Reasons for not reporting are:
- Uncertainty that it is really sexual assault (20% women, 4% men)
- Fear of turning the family against them (11% women, 16% men)
- Fear of not being believed (13% women, 4% men)
- Embarrassment, shame (7% women, 1% men)
- Regarding the first reason, which consists of uncertainty that it is indeed sexual assault, this result clearly demonstrates the importance of the recommendation made following the study, which mentioned the necessity of educating the population about what sexual assault is.
3- Awareness of CALACS and Services Offered
The results regarding CALACS awareness are interesting and encouraging:
- 74% of respondents know CALACS;
- 50%, however, said they know little about the organization;
- 92% of women would consult CALACS in case of assault and for support for loved ones (91%).
We observe that CALACS enjoys a high awareness rate and a positive perception. However, the majority of those who know CALACS are not very familiar with the organization, which is why it is important to continue promoting CALACS services, even more so than before.
The main reason for not consulting CALACS is that victims did not know about CALACS’s existence at the time of the assault.
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