April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on resources and stories that tend to go untold.
But for survivors of sexual violence, the memories and feelings aren't confined to a single month. Sara Barber, the executive director of the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, or SCCADVASA, contextualized the data provided by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
"It's horrifying," said Barber as she looked at the data, "both in South Carolina and nationwide. There's around 500,000 sexual assaults a year with only about 24% of those being reported to law enforcement."
That leaves 380,000 U.S. survivors silent. A 2025 report from the World Population Review shows South Carolina ranks sixth in the nation for domestic violence per capita. Sexual abuse is a type of domestic violence.
So, why is it so few survivors seek justice? Barber reflects on what she's learned as a professional advocate.
"Coming forward is a huge risk," she explained. "Especially if it's someone who has power over you. Say it was your boss, or pastor in your church, or a parent. That can be very complicated."
And there’s the fear of not being believed. In her line of work, Barber said she's heard several stories of alleged abusers' reputations saving them from accusations.
"Someone can be a great basketball coach and also could have sexually assaulted someone. Everyone is more than the worst thing they've done, but we want to believe what our view of someone is," said Barber.
While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows one in five South Carolina women have experienced rape in their lifetime, and 44% have experienced unwanted sexual contact, SCCADVASA found SLED data showed 11% of survivors in South Carolina are male.
"We see it extensively in boys in religious contexts," she said. "Scouting had a big problem with that as well."
During our discussion, I asked Barber if there's a risk factor associated with men who were abused becoming an abuser.
"I used to work for a domestic violence offender program," she said. "We would ask about if they experienced sexual violence. An astounding number of them would say, 'Yes, as a child, and I've never told anyone before because no one asked.'"
SCCADVASA focuses on prevention and education – but also free, confidential resources in every county. More information can be found online or by calling 803-256-2900.
Learn more about SCCADVASA's partnership with South Carolina Public Radio and SCETV, including upcoming campaign projects, here.
