Do you have statistics on the number of teenagers raped or sexually assaulted each year? Are there any programs that provide shelter/homes to teenage girls or women who are raped? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate it very much and also appreciate what you are doing for women who are victims of these horrible crimes.

Thanks for your note to FEMINIST.COM. There are a variety of statistics on the number of sexually assaults that occur each year and throughout life. The most accurate statistics, though described as "conservative" by some people who actually work with people who have been sexually abuse, come from the federal government: The FBI, the CIA, and the Department of Justice (the division on violence against women.)

In general, one in four girls and one in seven boys are sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 18. Rape statistics are harder to come by, mostly because rape itself is hard to define--for instance, it doesn't take into account the act itself as much as it does the perpetrator--i.e. if it's a relative or a friend it's not rape. So, sexual assault is perhaps more accurate.

As for rape statistics you can inquire at the above mentioned agencies and/to go to the V-Day site. The site lists several statistics as well as organizations working on this issue. Most recently I heard that every 2 seconds a women is raped somewhere in the world.

As for your second question about shelter/housing for teenage girls who are raped, I think the closest there is are rape crisis centers, which house women/girls for short periods of time. Also, some shelters for battered women, might include rape in their definition of battery, and, therefore, might provide shelter to them. Also, the V-Day site, which I mentioned above, includes a list of organizations working specifically on rape. They should be able to give you more information.

—Amy