According to a new report from Stígamót, the Icelandic Counseling and Information Center for Survivors of Sexual Violence, an increased number of people, 527, sought assistance from the center last year. Only in 1995 when the Stígamót was founded more people contacted the center.
In 2007, 277 people contacted the center for the first time. Stígamót explains this increase among other things by the center launching operations in other parts of the country, like in east Iceland, 24 Stundir reports.
The largest group of people who seek assistance from Stígamót are sufferers of incest, 42.9 percent. Most of these people were targeted when they were five to 15 years old, but do not seek help until they are at least 19 years of age.
There have never been more people contacting Stígamót because of prostitution, 22 women and three men. Twelve of these cases were new. Some were in regular contact with the center last year because of prostitution.
Prostitution was legalized in Iceland last year, though the involvement of a third party is illegal.
The Stígamót report also said that an increased number of people seek the center’s assistance because of pornography, like in cases where revealing photographs are used as tools of blackmail.
