The Edmonton Journal has published an article today — “Number of sexual assault reports increases as victims speak out - Edmonton women plan first ‘Slut Walk’ to highlight issue of responsibility” – where Edmonton Police Service Superintendent Danielle Campbell notes a slow but steady rise in the number of sexual assaults reported to authorities. Highlights:

Year by year, society’s discussion of sexual assault shifts from a critique of victims to prevention of the attack itself. Police and experts in Edmonton now believe that has led to more victims reporting such crimes.

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In 2008, 266 cases were assigned to the Edmonton police sexual assault unit. That number rose to 278 in 2009 and 298 in 2010. Many more are reported topolice, though some are proven unfounded, and others, such as indecent exposure or assaults on children, are investigated by police in other units.

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The proof, says Supt. Danielle Campbell, is in the increase of what is called historical victims coming forward. A case is considered historical if reported a year after the attack.

In 2008, 11 per cent of sexual assault files were historical. Last year, that number rose to 15 per cent. That increase, Campbell says, shows there is more trust in the system.

“Historically, there was a wrong emphasis on victim-blaming. Just a couple years ago, the EPS website had prevention tips that told potential victims to lock their doors and not walk in the river valley at night.

“Thank God we’ve now shifted to a message that simply says don’t commit sexual assault. The offender needs to take 100 per cent of the responsibility.”

If someone wants to commit a crime of control, they do so whether their victim wears a potato sack or a cocktail dress, Campbell says.

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Campbell says victims will trust the system only if they believe it works. For every predator taken off the streets, the trust builds.

The article also includes a preview of Edmonton SlutWalk with quotes from organizer Angela Ostafichuk.

“Rape is stigmatic because people are ashamed. They think about how they were drunk, what shirt they wore, so maybe it was their fault. No one deserves that.”

If the stigma lessens, more victims will come forward, Ostafichuk says.

Society is too tolerant, she says, of the lewd comments and wolf-whistles that make people feel unsafe. One of the event’s main messages is that a woman’s appearance is not a sexual invitation.