As many as one in 10 women in the UK claim to have been raped, according to new research by parenting website Mumsnet.The survey of 1,609 women found a tenth of those who responded had been raped and a third had been sexually assaulted.
More than four in five of the victims did not report their perpetrators to the police because of concerns over low conviction rates, embarrassment and shame.
The findings come as Mumsnet launches a week-long campaign called 'We Believe You' to highlight the extent of rape and sexual assault, and "the obstacles that society puts in front of those who report them".
Mumsnet co-founder Justine Roberts said: "We simply shouldn't accept that we live in a country where one in 10 women are raped and over one third sexually assaulted.
"Things are made worse by the feeling among many women that they can't talk about these crimes for fear of being treated unsympathetically, denying them access to practical and emotional support when they need it most. Read More
