Complaints of sexual crimes rose by 32 percent over three years, showing a steady climb even during the pandemic. The trend spans both penetrating assaults and other forms of sexual offenses, affecting victims across diverse backgrounds.
According to the crime balance issued by the Ministry of Interior, 1,606 crimes of this type were recorded in the first half of this year. This marks a 20 percent rise from the same period in 2021, when the emergency measures were still in place.
When compared with the year prior to the pandemic, official data indicate an increase of almost one third: from 1,218 crimes in the first six months of 2019 to 1,606 in 2022, a 31.8 percent increase.
A parallel picture emerges for rape offenses, which climbed by 15 percent in the past year (from 142 to 164) and by 31 percent since the first half of 2019 (113 incidents). These figures reflect a long-standing pattern in which many cases were historically underreported by victims, but growing social awareness programs have encouraged more reporting of assaults and abuses.
According to the ministry’s final balance, the clearance rate for sexual offenses involving freedom and compensation is 80.3 percent, indicating a high level of case resolution when investigations identify perpetrators.
Within this category, clearance rates are 83.1 percent for internal sexual abuse concerns, 87.7 percent for sexual abuse by penetration, 78.9 percent for sexual assaults, and 83.4 percent for penetration-related sexual assaults, illustrating a strong focus on identifying and prosecuting offenders.
Overall, the statistics underscore persistent challenges in reporting and prosecuting sexual crimes, while also highlighting improvements in awareness, reporting practices, and case clearance through robust law enforcement efforts. (Source: Ministry of Interior)