Sexual Assault                                                                                                   

The Sexual Assault Spoke seeks to significantly reduce sexual violence in our state by uniting individuals and organizations to educate, empower, and activate Utahns in this cause. Sexual assault and rape result in significant individual societal costs including negative short- and long-term physical, psychological, and emotional effects. Research reports that Utah ranks poorly (43 of 51) in terms of the prevalence of rape victimization among women and that we are 9th of the 50 US states for the number of rapes per capita. Further, only 11.8% of individuals who have experienced rape or sexual assault in Utah reported the crime to law enforcement. Things need to change in Utah! To learn more, listen to the spoke leaders discuss the work on this 15-minute podcast.

Spoke Leaders

Bold Vision & Goals

To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Sexual Assault spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below. Spoke leadership and UWLP team members are currently working to collect baseline data that will assist in adding numbers to the changes we want to see by 2026 and 2030.

Vision: Significantly decrease the prevalence of sexual assault in Utah and substantial increase the resources and support for survivors. 

Goals: 

1. Decrease Utahn’s high rate of rape from 59.5 per 100,000 inhabitants (6^th worst state) in 2022 to the total US rate (40.0 per 100,000) by 2030. (Note: Most rapes in Utah are not reported, but as Utah’s culture changes so the women feel they will be believed and that action will be taken, there will most likely be a temporary increase in reporting.) [Metric]
2. Increase the number of programs that are meeting the “minimum standard of care” to have 80% compliance by 2026 and 100% compliance by 2030. [Metric Forthcoming]
3. Increase the number of victim service activities and services by 10% in 2026 and by 25% in 2030. [Metric Forthcoming]
4. Increase state sexual assault prevention funding by 50% by 2026 and 75% by 2030. [Metric Forthcoming]
5. Change Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas [Metric Dashboard]:
   1. I don’t think sexual assault is a big problem in Utah. [Decrease agreement by 5% by 2026 and 15% by 2030]
   2. Any unwanted sexual contact or behavior is sexual assault. [Increase agreement by 5% by 2026 and 10% by 2030]
   3. I don’t think there is much I can do about sexual assault in my community. [Decrease agreement by 10% by 2026 and 20% by 2030]
   4. I know where to find sexual assault resources in my community. [Increase by 10% by 2026 and 30% by 2030]
6. Support the goals and efforts in collaborating spokes: Child Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Harassment & Gender-Based Discrimination.

Thriving Statement: Women and girls thrive when they can live lives free from sexual violence.

Partners