Pioneering sexual assault center chronicles the next 50 years

It could be rape. Or non-consensual sex. Or inappropriate touching. Or a broader boundary of personal space has been breached.

While the definition of sexual assault can be unclear depending on the context, people involved, and a variety of factors, there is no doubt that these incidents pose a real and present danger throughout Charleston…and have been for decades.

“This happens everywhere in our community, every day and to everyone,” said Deborah Freel, executive director of TriCounty SPEAKS (TCS), a sexual assault prevention, advocacy and support organization once known as People Against Rape and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. “And more importantly, it is under-reported, under-funded and under-recognized.”

Past as prologue

“The most direct definition of ‘sexual assault’? Any unwanted touching of a sexual nature,” Freel said. “However, it is important to understand that the type of touch often depends on the person on whom hands are being laid.

“For us it’s less about rework [i.e., excavating the past] Rather, it’s about ensuring that people understand and respect proactive communication. This means affirmative and enthusiastic agreement and clarity so that questionable situations never arise. Every time.”

Nationally, sexual assault remains a clear threat and reflects what is happening locally here in Charleston, Freel said. Over the course of a person’s lifetime, someone in America is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, according to data from the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network. One in six American women experience an unwanted advance or attack during their lifetime; One in 33 American men will have gone through the same thing.

In South Carolina, there were 3,536 new primary sexual assault survivors who sought help from a rape center last year – 2,037 adults and 1,499 children under 18, according to statistics from statewide rape centers. The vast majority of survivors (92% reportedly knew their abuser), but only 12% of primary victims reported the incident to law enforcement.

In 2023, TCS responded to 1,428 calls in Charleston through its 24-hour crisis prevention hotline, which provides advice, assistance, resources and law enforcement assistance to callers in distress.