How the fuck is there a statute of limitations for rape in New York?

[abaris]

In my country there's a statute of limitations for every crime, except homicide. And that has been introduced sometimes in the mid 60ies to make it possible to prosecute war criminals indefinetely.

Also I guess it would be very hard to prove a rape taking place, decades after the alleged crime, if no immediate action has been taken. As opposed to murder where new evidence and new forensic methods could still reveil the perpertrator.