Poll finds sexual violence exposure and victim-blaming in Lithuania

More than a third of Lithuania’s residents know someone who has experienced sexual violence, while more than half believe a person who did not object to sex is partly responsible for the abuse, a representative survey presented in the Lithuanian parliament on Wednesday found, LRT reported.

The poll, commissioned by the Lithuanian Women’s Lobby Organisation and conducted by Baltic Surveys from July 21 to 31, found that 38.4% of respondents knew someone who had experienced at least one of the listed forms of sexual violence: verbal harassment, unwanted physical contact, sexual assault or rape, the non-consensual sharing of intimate content, or online harassment. Another 4.1% said they had personally experienced sexual assault or rape.

Organisation head Dalia Puidokiene said shame, guilt, fear of not being believed, distrust of the legal system and fear of retaliation can prevent people from speaking about sexual violence. One in eight respondents said they would not seek help anywhere after experiencing it, nearly one in six did not know what they would do, and 37% said they would contact the police, she said.

Survey finds victim-blaming attitudes

Some respondents placed responsibility for sexual violence on the person who experienced it. In all, 47.1% agreed or tended to agree that an intoxicated person is responsible for sexual violence they experience. More than half, 51.6%, said a person who did not object to sex verbally or physically was partly responsible, while 38.3% agreed that going to nightclubs meant taking responsibility for sexual violence.

At the same time, 40% disagreed or tended to disagree that a person who did not object verbally or physically was partly responsible. A total of 71.9% said sex that took place against a person’s wishes, when they could not resist because of shock or fear, should be considered a crime.

Puidokiene said a person experiencing sexual violence may react with shock, fear or freezing and be unable to actively resist. She said the survey showed that a significant share of the public understood the importance of clear consent, though more progress was needed.

Respondents call for legal changes

Asked what Lithuania most needed to address sexual violence, 44.2% cited changes to the law, 18.7% better training for specialists, 17.4% greater public awareness and 12.7% better access to specialised support.

About eight in 10 respondents supported fines for sexual harassment in public places. Another 85% said penalties for sexual crimes against men and boys should be the same as those for violence against women and girls.

Puidokiene urged parliament to define rape and sexual assault in the Criminal Code on the basis of the absence of free consent, rather than requiring proof that force was used or that the person resisted.