被禁止的性行為與性暴力

性暴力: 強姦: 小結

毫無疑問，在太多的國家裏，強姦實在是一個嚴重的問題。不過，極為可能的是，就這個問題的嚴重程度，要獲得可靠的統計資料確乎是極其困難的。其中的一個原因是在不同的法律體系裏，定義強姦的方式相互矛盾。（在美國，甚至單獨的每一個州都使用不同的定義。）放眼世界，因為不同國家的刑法法律條款之間的寬泛的差異，這種矛盾的局面甚至讓人更加迷惑不解。此外，雖然錯誤的強姦指控決不會罕見，但是許多強姦案從來也沒有報案。其結果是，強姦案統計資料被人認為是不可靠的，而且國際間的資料比較也有疑問。然而，分析一下單獨一個國家累積下來的統計資料，我們至少能夠洞悉一些發展趨勢。大體上看，這些發展趨勢不會讓人感到失望的。

例如，在美國，在過去的30年裏，強姦案就存在一個緩慢而穩步下降的發展趨勢（“強姦”在此被狹義地定義為“強迫的插入”[1]。）

強姦發生率在近年來已經穩定下來（校準的受害人發生率/1000名12歲及以上的人）

Rape rates have been stable in recent years
Adjusted victimization rate per 1,000 persons age 12 and over

1973-2005年每1000人中的強姦案發生率曲線圖

強姦在這裏定義為既包括心理上的脅迫也包括身體上的強制的強迫性交。強迫性交就意味著被罪犯的強迫插入。本曲線圖既包括強姦也包括強姦未遂，既包括男性受害人也包括女性受害人，既包括異性戀的強姦也包括同性戀的強姦。強姦未遂包括口頭威脅強姦。欲知詳情，請點擊此處。資料來源：美國司法部，司法統計年鑒。

Line chart illustrating the rate of rape per 1,000 persons from 1973-2005
Rape is here defined as forced sexual intercourse including both psychological coercion as well as physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means penetration by the offender(s). The chart includes both completed and attempted rapes, male as well as female victims, and both heterosexual and homosexual rape.Attempted rape includes verbal threats of rape. For details, click here.Source: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence: Rape: Summary

There is no question that rape is a serious problem in all too many countries. However, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get reliable figures about the extent of this problem. One reason for this is the inconsistent way in which rape is defined in different legislatures. (In the USA, even the individual states use different definitions.) Seen from a world-wide perspective, the picture is even more confusing because of the wide differences between the criminal codes of different countries. Moreover, many rapes are never reported while, on the other hand, false rape accusations are by no means rare. As a result, rape statistics have a reputation of being unreliable, and international comparisons are problematical. Nevertheless, looking at the accumulated statistics of a single country, one can at least discern some trends. On the whole, these trends are not discouraging.
In the USA, for example, there has been a slow, but steady decrease of rapes over the last 30 years (“rape” is here narrowly defined as “forced penetration”.)