Eva Chan endured sexual abuse by a family member for about six years during her teenage years but only found the courage to report it to the police more than a decade later. At 16, reporting was unimaginable despite her mother removing the perpetrator from their home, partly due to a lack of professional support and the intimidating legal process. When she finally reported the abuse, Chan struggled to recall specific dates and times of each assault, which are legally required to prosecute each incident separately, making her feel as if she had to differentiate between nearly identical repeated abuses rather than convey their ongoing nature.

Advocates argue that this legal requirement creates a loophole that fails to adequately address the realities of prolonged abuse and are calling for reforms. Despite over 70 recommendations from the Law Reform Commission on sexual offence laws under government review, this critical issue remains unaddressed, highlighting the need for changes to better support survivors like Chan in the justice process.