Being able to live a life free from violence, including sexual violence, is a fundamental human right. Despite this, sexual violence is wide-ranging and pervasive throughout the world, including in the Americas. It is rooted in discrimination, sex and gender inequality, and patriarchal norms, and is perpetuated by the law itself, particularly against adolescent girls.
This report, which reviews the gaps and loopholes in the sexual violence laws of 43 jurisdictions in 35 countries in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, calls on governments to improve protections in the law, as well as improving access to justice and implementation of the law, and challenging negative stereotypes so that sexual violence is reduced, and perpetrators are held accountable.
“I think people blame victims because sexual violence is like a mirror to society. It’s better to think that a girl is lying because if not, that means acknowledging that someone in your circle is capable of something like that and can hurt someone else.”
Stephanie, Ecuador
Equality Now’s analysis of laws, policies, and practices related to sexual violence, alongside in-depth discussions with survivors, activists, and lawyers actively engaging with survivors of sexual violence, found that many sexual violence and rape laws across the jurisdictions studied effectively deny justice to survivors of sexual violence due to loopholes and protection gaps in the laws. The report also uncovered severe barriers to accessing justice and implementation gaps within the criminal justice system in many jurisdictions.
We’re calling for comprehensive action from governments to holistically address sexual violence and intersecting discrimination faced by women and girls across the region to live up to their commitments to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls. Specifically, the governments of the Americas must:
- Improve protections in the law
- improve access to justice under the law
- Improve implementation, practice, and accountability
- Challenge negative stereotypes and improve public understanding of sexual violence
Read the perspectives of survivors and activists across the Americas
Sarah Cooper – United States
I was 12 or 13 when I first got a Facebook account. Early on, I would aimlessly go online once or twice a day for an hour or two. Things rapidly progressed and I joined various Facebook subgroups – music fan groups, ones about Harry Potter, Twilight, …
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Gibi – United States
About Gibi: Gibi is a Youtuber and ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) artist with over 3.7 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She has been repeatedly targeted by deepfakes and online harassment. Things became so serious that she had to change her …
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Steve Grocki expert interview – United States
Steve Grocki is the Chief of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section, US Department of Justice The internet has many marketplaces where people can share child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as …
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Explore further resources
Mexico- Submission to the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at its 88th Pre-Session Working Group September 2023
This submission highlights the failure by the State of its duty to develop and comply with its obligations …
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The United States of America- Submission to the Human Rights Committee at the 139th Session September 2023
Equality Now, the ERA Coalition, Unchained at Last, the US End FGM/C Network and the Alliance for Universal Digital Rights (AUDRi) present the following …
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Equality Now Submits an Amicus Brief in Brazil to Promote the Enforcement of International Standards in the Case of Thelma Fardin, a Victim of Teenage Rape
Equality Now filed an Amicus Curiae before a Federal Regional Court in Brazil regarding the case …
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