A report, based on police statistics, found that 80 per cent of rapes involved those known to the victims. In addition, 20 per cent of such cases involved family members and relatives, while the rest were friends or acquaintances. Only 16 per cent involved cases where the victims did not know the rapists. [See pie chart]

"However, rape-prevention programmes always give the impression that rapes are often a case of a male attacking women in a dark and lonely alley. The fact that 84 per cent of the rapes involved family members or acquaintances are forgotten," stated a ground-breaking report by the All Women's Action Society (Awam), which was launched early this month.

Indeed, a large proportion of rape cases occurred at home, hotels or in buildings that are assumed safe for women. "It is only a myth that rapes only happen in dark, lonely and isolated places," the report said. "Women are often encouraged to avoid places that are deserted, but in reality, rapes normally happen at home and the rapist is someone known to the victim."

According to Awam, about 67 per cent of rape cases took place at home or in buildings, 6 per cent in hotels, while 2 per cent occurred in vehicles.

In the report entitled "Working Together Towards Better Services for Rape Survivors", Awam pointed out that the statistics from the Federal Police Headquarters in Bukit Aman showed rape cases had increased by two folds last year as compared to 1993. In 1998, 4.1 rape cases were reported every day, compared to 2.4 cases in 1993.

Researches done by Bukit Aman in 1998 also found that more cases were reported in urban areas. For instance, in Selangor there were 251 cases and in Johor, 175. The authorities concluded that more reports were made in these areas as the people had more information and it was easier to get assistance after being raped.