The once glittering career of R. Kelly took a dive, a steep one at that, last June. With a whopping 30-year sentence hanging over his head, the singer faced the repercussions of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Prosecutors argued, quite compellingly, that he had misused his fame, turning it into a weapon against the very people who adored him.

But the recent TV series Surviving R. Kelly, which made waves across the nation, brought a fresh surge of attention. The focus this time? The harrowing tales of survivors who decided to stare down their tormentor in court.

As Lifetime showcased this final chapter, they made a call to action. By displaying RAINN’s contact details, they pitched a direct line to those rattled by the revelations. RAINN, for the uninitiated, is the mastermind of Scott Berkowitz, and it stands as a towering figure in the fight against sexual abuse.

Following the show, the phones at RAINN were buzzing more than usual. Berkowitz pegged the surge at a 46% increase. This wasn’t just another statistic; it was a sign of suppressed voices finally finding an outlet. “We thank Lifetime for its continued partnership,” Berkowitz remarked, noting that many callers had broken their silence for the first time.

Digging into the numbers game, a bleak picture emerges. Based on the U.S. Justice Department’s figures, only 310 out of 1,000 sexual assaults get reported, which pales in comparison to the 619 out of 1,000 robberies. The reasons? Fear, shame, or simply a lack of faith in the system.

RAINN, with its National Sexual Assault Hotline, stands at the forefront, guiding victims through these murky waters. “It’s a very difficult process,” admits Berkowitz. And while their role, from offering solace to guiding survivors on reporting, is invaluable, one cannot ignore the societal implications.

Case in point: the surge in calls during Christine Blasey Ford’s 2018 testimony. Such high-profile cases act as a trigger, reminding countless victims of their suppressed traumas. With the rise of movements like #MeToo, RAINN’s relevance has only grown, as showcased by their support for over 4 million survivors in the past 29 years.

Berkowitz, however, adds a somber note. While it’s heartening to see RAINN’s reach, the underlying reality is grim. The persistent demand for their services underlines the rampant issue of sexual violence in society.

All in all, while R. Kelly’s reckoning has brought an age-old issue back into the limelight, the efforts of institutions like RAINN remind us of the long road ahead in combating sexual violence.