Editorial: Survivors of rape need our support

Many rape victims may not come forward for fear of more pain and misery. Photo/Thinkstock

Last week we published the harrowing tale of a woman who has been raped three times by three different men in her life.

It appeared as a Talking Point opinion column with the writer not named.

We simply said she was a community worker, because that is what she wanted. I know who she is but was happy not to reveal her identity.

Having said that, I still agonised over running the piece, which was a raw and emotional account of three experiences that no woman should ever have to go through once, let alone three times. I hesitated in publishing her story - not because I did not believe her, but rather because it is quite a graphic account of one person's trauma.

Eventually I decided to print it and I am glad I did.

The woman's original reason for writing it was because she believed there were thousands of women out there in her position who had been raped but did nothing because they were afraid that all they would get was more pain and misery. She wondered how many rapes go unreported because the woman who makes the complaint is victimised for a second time. She spoke of the justice system as the "injustice system". The hurt is still there which is understandable considering the last rape occurred late last year.

During my communications with her, I told her that she was brave. I meant it in a positive way, but she would not accept any titles or accolades because she felt that diminished the other women who had been through the same as her.

I did not mean it like that, because I believe all these women are heroes, but they also need justice.

We need to help women like our writer get the justice they deserve by fighting to ensure they feel protected by the system rather than re-victimised.