Recent national reporting by CNN, alongside the widely publicized case in France involving Gisèle Pelicot, has exposed a deeply disturbing reality. What is being described as a so-called “rape academy” is not only an example of sexual violence, but also a stark and dangerous form of interpersonal violence rooted in power, control, and coercion. These cases reveal how harm can be inflicted within intimate relationships, where trust is exploited and access to victims is used as a tool of abuse. 

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What these cases make clear is something advocates have long known. Sexual violence and intimate partner violence are often interconnected. They are not about sex. They are about domination, control, and a fundamental disregard for another human being. In many instances, the person causing harm is not a stranger. It is a partner, a spouse, or someone trusted with care and safety. That betrayal deepens the trauma and makes coming forward even more complex. 

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There is often a tendency to respond to stories like these with disbelief or skepticism. It is critical to confront that directly. False reporting of sexual assault is extremely rare, with research consistently showing rates between 2 percent and 10 percent. The far more common reality is underreporting. Survivors weigh safety, fear of retaliation, concern about being believed, and the potential impact on their families and livelihoods before ever speaking up. Silence is not a simple choice. It is often a survival strategy. 

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At the same time, silence also perpetuates harm. When violence is minimized, ignored, or left unchallenged, it creates conditions where abuse can continue. Addressing both sexual violence and interpersonal violence requires us to face uncomfortable truths. It requires a willingness to move beyond what feels easy or familiar and to acknowledge the realities that survivors live with every day. 

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At Transitions of PA, we are seeing the impact of these realities in our own communities. Through the first nine months of this fiscal year, from July 1 through March 31, hotline calls have increased significantly compared to the same period last year. Domestic violence calls rose from 2,133 to 2,867, a 34.4 percent increase. Sexual assault calls more than doubled, increasing from 162 to 358, a 121 percent increase. Overall, hotline calls climbed from 2,295 to 3,225, representing a 40.5 percent increase.  

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We are also seeing increased engagement in counseling services. Sexual assault counseling hours increased by 14.4 percent, and domestic violence counseling hours rose by nearly 12 percent. These increases reflect not only growing demand, but also the depth of need as survivors seek long-term healing and support. 

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The impact of sexual and interpersonal violence extends far beyond the immediate crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the lifetime economic cost of rape to exceed $122,000 per survivor, including medical care, lost productivity, criminal justice costs, and other long-term impacts. This does not account for the emotional, psychological, and generational effects that cannot be measured in dollars. 

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This is not a distant issue. It is a community issue. Survivors are our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members. The conditions that allow violence to occur, including silence, stigma, and lack of accountability, exist everywhere. 

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We must be willing to confront this reality. We must be willing to speak up, to challenge harmful attitudes, and to support survivors without hesitation. We must also ensure that the systems designed to respond to violence are adequately resourced and equipped to meet the growing need. 

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At Transitions of PA, we remain committed to providing 24-hour hotline support, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education across our communities. As demand continues to grow, we are actively pursuing resources to strengthen our response capacity, including the addition of dedicated advocacy support to ensure survivors can access help when they need it most. 

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Survivors deserve to be believed. They deserve safety, dignity, and support. And our communities have a responsibility to ensure that silence is not what allows harm to continue.