Communities Standing Up Against Sexual Violence
A European Union-wide survey conducted among over 40,000 Estonian women in 2014 revealed that 13% of women over the age of 15 have experienced sexual violence (Wright, 2020) at least once in their lives.
That’s one in every eight women in Estonia. Let that sink in.
In the last decade, the number of reported sexual crimes has continued to rise, reaching a total of 731 cases in 2023, according to the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) (Nael, 2024).
The problem is growing, yet we’re still not talking about it. Are we afraid? What are we waiting for? It’s time to BE LOUD.
Assaulted in Broad Daylight: a Personal Story
On Wednesday, July 24, Liza entered Kristiine shopping mall to buy a phone charger. Shortly after, a man began following her to the Euronics store. He stopped behind her, unzipped his pants, and tried to reach under her romper. The incident was captured on security cameras.
At first, Liza didn’t know how to react. “I felt paralysed by fear,” she recalls.
She never expected to be assaulted in a public space and in broad daylight. She did, however, capture the assailant on her phone camera.
What shocked her even more than the incident was the indifference of the passersby. No one in the store seemed to care about what had happened, and no one offered help.
This lack of support didn’t discourage Liza, who shared the story on her Instagram, turning it into a social media campaign that produced a lot of feedback.
In the Aftermath of the Crime
A few hours after Liza uploaded her photos on Instagram, one of her followers spotted the man not far from Kristiine shopping mall. He called the police, and by the end of the day, an investigation was underway. With security camera footage, immediate witnesses, and community support, Liza had a much stronger case.
The investigation didn’t last long due to the lack of a sufficient legislative framework in Estonia to protect women against sexual violence. However, the attention and support it received proved the importance of communities stepping up and advocating for victims’ rights.
Legislative Changes Alone Not Enough
In 2017, the Riigikogu ratified the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention “Action against violence against women and domestic violence” (Istanbul Convention Action against violence against women and domestic violence, 2002), which emphasises the principle of consent in relation to sexual crimes.
Consent laws have been adopted in 18 European countries, with Finland joining in January 2023. According to experts, these changes have improved awareness of the situation and the needs of victims of sexual violence (Peel, 2023). But legislative changes alone are not enough.
Eurobarometer data on gender-based violence reflects that 33% of Estonians believe that non-consensual sex could be justified in certain situations (European Commission, 2016), highlighting a deeper societal problem. We are still collectively struggling to identify and condemn sexual violence.
We live in a society that blames victims while letting violent men off the hook. Laws are the result of the patriarchal culture we live in and reflect this toxic mindset.
Fighting sexual violence requires a shift in mindset as much as a change in laws. Fortunately, this change is already underway.
Community Standing Up Against Sexual Violence
Liza’s story spread rapidly across social media, sparking an overwhelming response. Her DMs were flooded with waves of support and personal experiences.
Here is some of the feedback she received:
“Saying, ‘I can’t go for a walk in the evening because I’m a girl’ sounds so stupid but so relatable in 2024…”
“It’s great that you stood up for yourself! When it happens to me, I freeze in fear…”
“Thank you for speaking up! That’s what all of us should really do. It happened to me already six times, but I never felt brave enough to deal with it, and no one supported me at the time. You are my hero!”
“Thank you for taking all possible measures to fight for what’s right! I’ve faced similar situations so many times I’ve lost count – from being grabbed by the hand to insults and aggressive flirting. Very rarely does someone choose to step in.”
“About two years ago, I was on the bus. It was almost empty. A man sat next to me and started masturbating. I was looking out of the window and didn’t notice it right away. When I realized what he was doing, I was in shock. I stood up and left, but I just… I wish I could have done more. This shouldn’t be normalized.”
“It’s a horrible story. I hope you got all the support you need. I also thought this would not happen to me, but my massage therapist had a different plan. We have to speak up more!”
“It happened to me so many times – 95% of the incidents were in Tallinn! Only now I can finally reflect on it… everyone makes it look like it’s not their problem. It has to be punishable by law.”
Through the Victim’s Eyes
It’s not uncommon to “freeze” in response to sexual violence. This typical reaction paralyzes the victim, making her unable to resist.
For example, a 2017 Swedish clinical study (Möller, Söndergaard, & Helström, 2017) found that 70% of the 298 female respondents experienced “involuntary paralysis” during the assault. In such cases, it’s crucial to understand that no consent has been given.
Yet, victims often try to rationalise what happened, and the most logical explanation becomes, “I have done something wrong – it’s my fault.” It takes time to gain perspective and break free from this damaging mindset.
Conclusion
Estonian society’s attitude toward sexual violence plays a crucial role in shaping the response of the justice system. Victim blaming can affect how the legal system perceives and handles cases.
The sharp increase in reported sexual crimes can partly be explained by a greater awareness of victims’ rights and an increasing number of women seeking justice.
In simple words, women are learning to stand up for themselves. Many local organizations, including International Women’s Network in Estonia (IWNE), are here to help.
It’s time to stop whitewashing sex offenders and start calling things as they really are.
If you have experienced sexual violence and want to share your story, reach out to us at blog@iwne.ee. You are not alone. ♥
Bibliography
Wright, H. (Ed.). (2020, March 3). Expert: Over half of sexual assault victims in Estonia do not seek help. ERR. https://news.err.ee/1059346/expert-over-half-of-sexual-assault-victims-in-estonia-do-not-seek-help
Nael, M. (2024, February 15). Registered sex crimes up by around a quarter last year. ERR. https://news.err.ee/1609253547/registered-sex-crimes-up-by-around-a-quarter-last-year
Istanbul Convention Action against violence against women and domestic violence. (2002). Home – Istanbul Convention Action Against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention.
Peel, A. (2023, April 12). New coalition wants better protection for victims of sexual violence. ERR. https://news.err.ee/1608945377/new-coalition-wants-better-protection-for-victims-of-sexual-violence.
European Commission. (2016, November). Eurobarometer. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2115
Statistics Estonia. (2024, April 3). 41% of women in Estonia experience intimate partner violence. https://www.stat.ee/en/news/41-women-estonia-experience-intimate-partner-violence
Möller, A., Söndergaard, H. P., & Helström, L. (2017). Tonic immobility during sexual assault: A common reaction predicting post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 96(8), 932–938. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13174
