Why do Indigenous Women Face Higher Rates of Sexual Violence?

Ellie Ure |   8 August 2023 |  WWYW Articles

It is the unfortunate reality that women, are often the victims of sexual assault, harassment, and violence.

But why is it that Indigenous women are at higher risk of experiencing these crimes? 

As a survivor of sexual assault, and as an Aboriginal woman, I know firsthand the impacts culture can have on experiencing and reporting sexual assault.

A distrust of police is often ingrained into us from a very young age. We are taught that it is more dangerous to seek help from the police than to remain silent.  

In my experience, the fear of not being believed or listened to has stopped me from reporting assaults. It is an experience, I do not share alone.  

I have heard countless other stories of the reports of Indigenous women being swept under the rug and this has directly impacted my inclination to report. 

I feel it is appropriate to state that the aim of this article is not to say that the experiences of non-Indigenous women are not important, but to simply shine a light on the disproportionate statistics in sexualised violence here in Australia. 

Rates of sexual violence in Australia are shockingly high. One in five women over the age of 15 will experience sexual violence [1]. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women over the age of 15, this number increases to three in five [2]. 

Is there a reason for this discrepancy?

When looking at the sexual violence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face, it is important that we take into account some important considerations.

These include the context of colonisation,  the dispossession of Indigenous peoples from their land, the separation of people from culture and the experience of racism.

These frameworks give understanding to the challenges Indigenous women face when reporting sexual violence. It also must be clearly understood that the causes do not derive from Aboriginal culture [3]. 

Some Reasons Indigenous Women do not report Sexual Violence include:

• Intergenerational trauma causing a distrust of non-Aboriginal people particularly authority figures.

• Fear of retaliation or alienation from community.

• Lack of education and awareness, particularly in remote communities.

• Lack of social service support and culturally competent service providers.

Full Stop Australia outlines some other reasons why Indigenous women have a lower report rate of sexual assault than non-Indigenous women in Australia [4].

Police
Indigenous women may not feel comfortable or able to report sexual violence or assault to police for a number of reasons. The distrust for police in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is real and valid.

It has been previously reported that police do not prioritise sexual assault reports against Indigenous women, and that these reports are often met with racism [5].

Some women have reported experiencing assault, or knowing of an assault, perpetrated by a police officer [6].

Another reason is the possible community pressure to not report if the offender is also Indigenous, due to the incredibly high incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men [7]. 

Services
Many Indigenous women believe that culturally competent support services are not available, and that a non-Indigenous woman may not understand or be able to ask culturally appropriate questions [8]. 

So, what can be done?

Organisations such as Community First Development provide safe and supportive places for Indigenous people in remote communities in the hopes of creating secure spaces where individuals can have a yarn, connect with other mob, and even raise concerns about themselves or others [9].

Events such as The Women’s Holistic Healing Journey provides spaces for First Nations women to connect with others and share stories [10].

Another organisation, The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA), was established in 2009 to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and to protect their rights through cultural preservation, health education and coalition building [11]. 

Statistics
The following key statistics outline just how disproportionate sexual violence statistics are for Indigenous women. 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 34 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for family violence related injuries [12]. 

• According to the results of the 2002 International Violence Against Women Survey, 12 percent of Indigenous women, compared to 4 percent of non-Indigenous women had experienced sexual violence in the previous year [13]. 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are nearly 11 times more likely to die as a result of an assault or and twice as likely to die due to domestic and family violence compared to non-Indigenous women [14]. 

• One in ten Indigenous women experiences family and domestic violence [15]. 

• Intimate partner violence contributes 11% of the burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 18 to 44. This is six times higher than for non-Indigenous women [16]. 

If you or someone you know is struggling and in need of support, please reach out to any of the following support services:
The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line
A free and confidential telephone and online service for any Australian experiencing, or who has experienced, domestic or family violence and/or sexual assault.

• Phone: 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au, available 24/7

• Lifeline
  A national number that can help put you into contact with a crisis service in your state
  Phone: 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au, available 24/7

More support services available at this website:
https://www.respect.gov.au/services/

References

1.       Please see Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Cth), Sexual Assault in           Australia, Report No. 1, 20.

2.          See ibid.

3.         Full Stop Australia, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities’, Full Stop   Australia  (online 2023)

<https://fullstop.org.au/get-help/find-services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-           islander-communities>

4.         See ibid.

5.         Ibid.

6.         Ibid.

7.         Ibid.

8.         Ibid.

9.         Community First Development, ‘A First Nations approach to community      development: Our community development framework’, Community First         Development, (Online, 1 January 2020) <            https://www.communityfirstdevelopment.org.au/>

10.       Ibid.

11.       NATSIWA, ‘About’, NATSIWA, (Online, 2014)

12.       L Mallie, ‘Fast Facts – Indigenous Family Violence Review of Fast Facts-        Indigenous Family Violence ]’, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, (Online, 3 August 2023).

            <extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://anrowsdev.wpenginepo  wered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Fast-Facts-Indigenous-family-violence-     pdf>

13.       Ibid.

14.       Kim Webster, ‘A preventable burden measuring and addressing the prevalence and          health impacts of intimate partner violence in Australian women: Key findings and             future directions,’ ANROWS, (Online July, 2016)             <https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/a-preventable-burden-measuring-and-  addressing-the-prevalence-and-health-impacts-of-intimate-partner-violence-in-            australian-women-key-findings-and-future-directions/>

15.       Ibid.

16.       Ibid.