We’ve previously reported about national media coverage giving a voice to sexual abuse survivors and social media aspects to support their voices as well.

However, historically in some cases, it can take several years before sexual abuse victims report an incident. ACCESS Assault Care Center Sexual Abuse Services Coordinator Marcy Webb says our country has created a “rape culture” through an environment surrounded by media, movies, music and advertising that normalizes and condones violence against women of all types.

“It’s really common for crime victims to feel like they don’t want to share because they think they caused it or that it was their fault. Or they don’t want to share because when they did try the first time they were met with someone in their support system who didn’t believe them.”

Current Iowa law allows for victims of child sex abuse to report it ten years following their 18th birthday. While the lawmakers are working to possibly remove that statute of limitation, Webb believes this is a good law to have in place.

“It’s really invaluable for children who are victimized by sex crimes to be able to make it through their childhood, go through puberty, go through adolescence, and become an adult, and then still have a period of time where they can maybe do some healing work around their trauma. And then decide what’s best for them in terms of their reporting options.”

Webb points out that ACCESS provides several services for Greene County residents who are sexual abuse victims and survivors. To learn more about the available services, contact them on their business phone at 515-292-0500, the crisis line at 515-292-5378 and on their website at assaultcarecenter.org.