RainLily Retrospective Study Statistical Report 2019-2023 《風雨蘭個案回溯研究統計報告 2019-2023》
RainLily, the first-ever one-stop sexual violence crisis centre in Hong Kong, has provided a range of support services for sexual violence victim-survivors since its establishment in 2000. Over the past five years (2019-2023), RainLily has received and handled a total of 1,984 sexual victimisation cases, all involving female victim-survivors. To provide valuable insights into the overall picture of the issues in Hong Kong, our team has decided to initiate this retrospective study series by analysing and presenting RainLily's case information every five years, starting with this inaugural report. This series aims to enhance data tracking and monitoring regarding sexual violence problems in our local community, and facilitate the identification of emerging trends as well as the timely adjustments of support measures.
As the inaugural report in the series, a total of 1,984 cases between 2019 and 2023 are included and analysed. Of these cases, 1,951 are newly reported or reopened due to revictimisation (i.e. new or different incidents), and the remaining 33 cases were re-activated due to survivors' continuing needs.
Overall picture of RainLily's sexual violence cases
Between 2019 and 2023, the majority of sexual violence survivors seeking help from RainLily were Chinese (92.2%), with permanent Hong Kong residency (93.5%), normal intelligence (97.3%), and at least a senior secondary education (87.8%). In terms of age group, young women aged 20-29 were the most prevalent, accounting for around 40% of the total cases. Most incidents involved sexual assault perpetrated by a known male assailant, often in private settings. Over 40% of cases involved ongoing or multiple abuses, and survivors frequently delayed reporting, with many seeking help over a year after the incident (the average delay was 1,536.8 days or approximately 4.2 years). Only around 40% of survivors reported the incident to the police.
Implications of emerging trends of sexual abuse
Sexual violence against women and girls in Hong Kong is on the rise, with a near 50% increase in reported cases between 2019 and 2023 compared to the previous five years (2014-2018). This alarming trend is particularly evident in specific areas: non-physical contact sexual abuse, intimate partner sexual violence, workplace sexual violence, and internet-facilitated sexual violence. While these findings are based on retrospective data from RainLily, they generally align with broader observations from other local studies in recent years.
These data underscore a critical need for a more proactive approach in tackling sexual violence problems in Hong Kong. In particular, the significant increases in intimate partner sexual violence, image-based sexual abuse, workplace sexual violence, and internet-facilitated sexual violence highlight the urgency of the situation. To effectively combat this issue, targeted interventions are required to prevent and respond to these forms of sexual violence incidents.
Implications of specificities of different forms of sexual abuse
Besides emerging trends, the findings of this report reveal the nuances between different forms of sexual abuse. For intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV), young women are disproportionately affected, often experiencing penetrative assault and enduring prolonged abuse before seeking help. Potential challenges include difficulties in recognising non-consensual or coercive behaviour within intimate relationships and overcoming harmful cultural norms around sexual intimacy. Image-based sexual violence (IBSV) primarily involves intimate partners but also extends to online and work acquaintances, with victims facing ongoing fear and loss of control. Child sexual abuse is often perpetrated by family members, highlighting the importance of early prevention and parental education. Internet-facilitated sexual violence, particularly involving online acquaintances, often escalates to offline sexual victimisation, with adolescents and young people at increased risk. These findings emphasise the diverse nature of sexual abuse and the need for tailored prevention and support strategies.
To effectively address these complex issues, a holistic approach must be adopted. Prevention programmes must be implemented early in life, focusing in particular on healthy relationships, sexual consent, and digital safety. Alongside regular services, support measures for survivors should be specialised to address the unique challenges of each form of abuse, such as image removal assistance for IBSV survivors. Additionally, research into the underlying factors that contribute to these nuanced forms of sexual violence is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. Last, but not least, addressing the cultural and societal factors that normalise or tolerate sexual abuse is also essential for creating a safer environment for all.
Implications of the nuanced needs of victim-survivors
This report also sheds light on the complex needs of sexual assault survivors from various backgrounds. Even though they experience immense trauma, victim-survivors often delay seeking help, averaging over 4 years' wait before reaching out to RainLily. Support services need to address not just immediate needs (e.g. forensic examination) but also ongoing challenges like mental health struggles and relationship issues.
The report also reveals a concerning decline in reporting rates over time. Yet the reasons behind this decrease are unclear, and further research is needed to understand why survivors are less likely to report their situation to the police. High attrition within the criminal justice system adds another layer of difficulty, with many cases dropped due to lack of evidence or withdrawal by the complainant. This suggests a need to improve the legal system support and protective measures for survivors, such as streamlining the investigation and prosecution process to minimise the pressures they face.
Recommendations for policy and practice
This report highlights the ongoing prevalence of sexual violence in Hong Kong, with new and concerning trends emerging. It emphasises the need for improved support services for victim-survivors. Key recommendations include:
Establish hospital-based one-stop crisis centres in Hong Kong: The report proposes establishing hospital-based crisis centres in Hong Kong, offering all necessary services (e.g. medical, legal, and counselling) in one location to improve care for sexual assault survivors. This "one-stop" approach would increase service accessibility, minimise the need for victims to repeatedly recount their traumas, reduce their overall burden, and potentially lead to more help-seeking and fewer abandoned cases. As a starting point, it is recommended to set up one-stop crisis centres in each of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories Districts. These centres shall be equipped with facilities that meet the standards set out in the Guidelines for medico-legal care for victims of sexual violence issued by the World Health Organization (2003). Through these centres, the government can regularly evaluate their effectiveness and expand the model to other locations as needed.
Implement reforms regarding sexual offences and prosecutorial policies: The report calls for legal reforms to strengthen protections for sexual violence victim-survivors and encourage them to seek legal justice. This includes defining "consent" in law, replacing the rape offence with a broader sexual penetration offence, and adopting gender-neutral language in sexual offence laws. Additionally, the report emphasises the importance of changing attitudes among legal professionals involved in the legal system, such as implementing better sensitivity training or guidelines for prosecutors and jurors, to ensure fairer outcomes for survivors. In fact, the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong published a report in 2019 outlining its final recommendations for reforming sexual and related offence laws. RainLily urges the government to adopt a more proactive approach in addressing these outstanding recommendations.
Implement sexuality education targeting school aged children and teenagers: The report emphasises the need for comprehensive sexuality education in Hong Kong schools to address rising rates of sexual abuse among adolescents and young people. Current education on sexuality and relationships is inadequate, with the currently very limited teaching hours primarily focused on imparting biological information. Crucial topics such as consent and healthy relationships are often overlooked. The report recommends making sexuality education a compulsory subject or implementing comprehensive curriculum guidelines. In the short term, targeted prevention education programmes covering sexual consent, image-based sexual violence, and online safety are essential to address emerging threats and protect young people from harm.
Implement context-specific support measures to cater to the nuanced needs of victim-survivors: The report emphasises the need for a comprehensive range of support services for sexual violence victim-survivors, addressing both immediate and long-term needs throughout their journey through trauma treatment. This includes crisis intervention, mental health support, sexual and relationship therapy, legal aid, and takedown services for image-based sexual abuse. Improving accessibility to services is also crucial, requiring a centralised directory to connect survivors with appropriate support. Additionally, training for service providers is essential to ensure high-quality and trauma-informed care (e.g. sensitivity training).
Concluding remarks – the importance of continuous data improvement: This report highlights the need for a holistic yet adaptive approach to address sexual violence in Hong Kong. While providing valuable insights into recent trends, this report emphasises the need for further research to understand the underlying causes of various sexual violence incidents and the help-seeking behaviours of victim-survivors. In addition, the report also calls for a publicly accessible data tracking system to monitor incidences of sexual violence and identify emerging trends. By adopting a holistic and integrative approach that combines research, data tracking, policy improvements, prevention education, and appropriate support services, we believe Hong Kong can effectively address this issue and create a safer, more supportive environment for victim-survivors.
自2000年成立以來，「風雨蘭」一直致力向遭受性暴力對待的女性提供各種支援服務。作為本港首間一站式性暴力危機支援中心，「風雨蘭」在過去五年（2019-2023）共為1,984位女性倖存者提供危機介入及相關跟進服務。為了更進一步了解香港性暴力問題的近況與趨勢，是項個案回溯研究系列將會每五年一度整理、分析並公開「風雨蘭」的個案數據。透過這項研究，一方面，本中心期望建立一個數據追蹤及監測機制，以協助公眾了解香港性暴力問題的最新狀況；另一方面，透過數據分析各類性暴力事件，以探討更有效的防治策略及支援措施，務求為受害人/倖存者提供更全面的保障與支援。
是次研究主要針對「風雨蘭」在2019年至2023年間的1,984宗性暴力個案進行了一系列的數據統計及資料分析。其中，1,951宗為新呈報個案或因當事人再次受害（即新的不同事件）而重開的個案，餘下的33宗則是因應當事人的服務需要而重啟的舊個案。
「風雨蘭」求助個案的整體狀況
根據數據分析結果，過去五年向「風雨蘭」求助的性暴力倖存者當中，約九成是華人（92.2%）、香港永久居民（93.5%）、智力正常人士（97.3%）、具備高中或以上學歷（87.8%）。年齡組別方面，則以20至29歲的女性為最多，約佔四成的個案。侵犯者的背景方面，絕大多數為男性，且多與當事人認識，而性侵事件亦較常在私人場所內發生。值得注意的是，超過四成個案的性暴力事件有持續發生，亦即受害人經歷了多次、數次的侵害。然而，延遲求助的情況仍然十分普遍，由事發當日起計算，倖存者平均延遲1,536.8天（約4.2年）始向「風雨蘭」求助。另外，只有大約四成左右的倖存者曾就事件向警方報案。
香港性暴力問題的新興趨勢
從「風雨蘭」的個案數字可見，性暴力問題（尤其針對女性）在本港呈現上升趨勢，2019年至2023年間的求助個案比起前五年（2014-2018）增加了近50%，而以下幾類性侵個案的升幅就更為顯著：非接觸式的性暴力事件（譬如偷拍）、親密伴侶性暴力、職場性暴力和網絡性暴力。
儘管受限於「風雨蘭」的個案樣本，是次研究的分析結果仍一定程度上反映了本港性暴力問題的發展現況。特別針對「親密伴侶性暴力」、「影像性暴力」、「職場性暴力」及「網絡性暴力」等這些個案，社會各界必須盡快制定具有針對性的預防及支援措施，以應對上述這一連串的性暴力事件。
剖析不同性暴力事件的個案特徵
為制定更有效的防治措施，是次研究亦探討了不同類型的性暴力個案的背景特徵。例如，針對「親密伴侶性暴力」，是次報告發現年輕女性更易受到相關問題的威脅，而當中有不少個案涉及插入式性侵且是持續發生。這些發現揭示了親密伴侶性暴力倖存者所面對的困難，例如親密關係中的強迫性行為較難識別，以及主流文化對伴侶在親密接觸及性事方面存在不合理期望；針對「影像性暴力」，是次研究除了發現親密伴侶是最常見的侵犯者之外，影像性暴力亦常在工作場所及網絡平台發生，而相關事件亦使當事人處於長期的恐懼之中；童年性侵方面，最常見的個案類型是「家內性侵」，反映了及早教育兒童及家長相關預防意識的迫切性；至於「網絡性暴力」，是次研究亦發現有不少青少女及年輕女性與網友在線下會面時遭到對方性侵，顯示了相關問題的嚴重性。
為了更有效地應對不同類型的性暴力事件，制定既全面且具針對性的性暴力防治策略實在刻不容緩。首先，應及早為兒童及青少年提供性暴力預防教育，而教育內容應特別涵蓋人際親密關係的建立、知情同意、網絡安全等議題。其次，考慮到不同性侵倖存者的處境，除了提供情緒輔導等一般支援服務外，更應發展多元化的支援措施以應對倖存者的不同需求，例如影像下架支援服務。此外，開展不同類型的研究計劃務求更深入地了解各種性暴力問題的成因，亦有助於制定更有效的預防與干預策略。最後，為了建立一個零性暴力的安全環境，改變社會對性暴力的容忍態度、消除性侵迷思的宣導工作亦不容忽視。
正視性暴力倖存者的服務需求
是次研究報告亦再次強調不同的性暴力倖存者有不同的服務或支援需求。以求助的時間點為例，從「風雨蘭」的個案資料顯示，倖存者平均延遲超過四年始向中心求助。由此可見，針對支援服務的安排，一方面應持續且有效地回應倖存者的即時或短期服務需要(例如法醫檢查)，另一方面亦應開拓不同的配套措施以協助倖存者處理歷過創傷後的各種長期健康問題，例如心理精神健康及社交障礙等問題。
此外，是次報告亦顯示性暴力事件的報案率在近年有所下跌。然而，導致這一狀況的原因尚未明確，極需透過進一步研究以了解倖存者不願意向警方報案的因由。同時，司法系統的個案流失問題亦應受到更多關注。是次報告發現許多案件因證據不足或當事人撤訴而終結，這或多或少反映現有的司法保護措施對於倖存者而言並不足夠，相關支援措施仍有待改善，例如，探討個案調查與起訴程序的優化方案，以減輕倖存者在司法程序中所承受的壓力。
政策及措施建議
是次研究報告顯示香港性暴力問題不僅依然嚴重，更出現了新趨勢及變化。是次報告強調社會極需盡快改善針對性暴力倖存者的支援服務與防治措施，主要建議包括：
在公立醫院內設置一站式危機支援中心：是次報告建議政府應在公立醫院內建立一站式危機支援中心，以向性暴力倖存者提供所有基本支援服務（例如醫療、法律和輔導）。以「一站式」的中心模式提供支援，將可大大改善及加強各種服務的便利性，大幅減少倖存者重述創傷的需要，有助減輕他們的心理負擔，直接及間接地鼓勵倖存者求助之餘，亦有助減少個案流失。作為起點，「風雨蘭」建議政府分別在港島區、九龍區和新界區各設立一所一站式危機支援中心。除了選址於公立醫院內，這些中心亦應配備符合世界衛生組織（2003年）發布的《性暴力受害者醫療法醫學監護指南》的標準設施。透過設立這些支援中心作為試行點，政府可以定期評估其成效，並根據實際需要將相關模式擴展到其他地點。
推行性罪行及其相關檢控政策的法律改革：是次報告建議政府應以更積極的態度推動性罪行相關的法律改革，以加強對受害人的法律保障，並鼓勵倖存者尋求司法公義。這包括在現行法例中就著「同意」（Consent）一詞給予明確的法律定義、以「插入式性侵」的相關罪行取代強姦罪、以及在相關法例中採用不帶性別偏見的措辭。此外，是次報告亦強調改善法律專業人士的態度的重要性，例如為檢察人員和陪審員提供更佳的培訓或指引，以確保倖存者能獲得公平的審訊機會。事實上，香港法律改革委員會於2019年發布了一份報告，詳述其關於改革性罪行及相關法律程序的建議。「風雨蘭」呼籲政府採取更主動、積極的態度推動相關的法律改革。
為學齡兒童及青少年提供全面的性教育：有鑑於兒童及青少年所受到的性暴力威脅與日俱增，政府應在各級學校積極推動全面性教育。現行的性教育課程時數不但嚴重不足，內容上亦偏重於生理知識，往往忽略了人際關係、社會文化等面向的議題探討。是次報告建議政府應考慮將性教育列為必修課目，又或制定專門的教學指引予學校及老師作參考。除此之外，有鑑於是次報告中提及的性侵事件新趨勢，特別針對「知情同意」（Consent）、「影像性暴力」、「網絡安全」等議題的性暴力預防教育應從速開展，務求減低兒童及青少年所面對的風險與威脅。
提供全面的支援服務以應對倖存者的不同服務需要：是次報告強調應為性暴力倖存者提供全面的支援服務，以應對其處理創傷過程中的即時和長期需要。這些服務應涵蓋即時危機介入、心理健康支援服務、性與關係治療、法律援助、針對影像性暴力問題的影像下架支援等等。為提升服務的便利性，是次報告亦建議建立一個中央資訊平台整合各種服務資源，以協助倖存者快速找到所需的支援。此外，向提供相關支援服務的專業人員進行專業培訓（例如敏感度培訓）亦至關重要，以確保倖存者能得到適切的支援，並避免造成二次創傷。
結論 - 數據管理的重要性
透過提供參考數據及資料分析，「風雨蘭」相信是次研究亦有助推動社會各界就著性暴力問題開展不同的專題研究，以進一步了解相關問題的潛在成因及倖存者的困難。此外，是次報告亦反映了建立一個可供公眾查閱的數據追蹤系統的重要性，有助社會各界可以持續監察性暴力事件及識別新趨勢，能夠更有效地調整工作方向、提升效能。是次報告強調，唯有透過全面性的行動策略，結合研究、數據追蹤、政策改善、預防教育和支援服務，我們才可以從根本解決本港的性暴力問題，並為倖存者締造一個更安全、更友善的生活環境。