What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is a deeply traumatic experience that can affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and genders. Despite its widespread impact, it is often surrounded by silence, stigma, and misinformation. Understanding what sexual violence is, how it relates to sexual assault and rape, and where to seek help is essential for supporting survivors and preventing harm.
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is a term used to describe any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act through coercion, force, or manipulation. It includes a wide range of behaviours, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
Sexual violence includes:
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexual abuse in relationships
- Child sexual abuse
- Sexual exploitation and grooming
- Revenge porn and image-based abuse
- Sexual harassment and unwanted touching
Sexual violence is never the victim’s fault, and consent must always be freely given, enthusiastic, and informed.
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault refers to intentional sexual touching without consent. This includes touching any part of the body, whether through clothing or not, and applies regardless of gender.
Examples of sexual assault:
- Groping
- Kissing without consent
- Forcing someone to touch another person sexually
- Any unwanted sexual contact
Sexual assault is a criminal offence, and survivors have the right to report it and seek support without fear of judgment or blame.
What is Rape?
Rape is defined under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as:
“When a person intentionally penetrates another person’s vagina, anus or mouth with a penis, without their consent, and without reasonably believing that they consent.”
Whether or not someone was under the influence of alcohol, wearing certain clothing, or knew the perpetrator is irrelevant, rape is always the fault of the person who chose to ignore consent.
Myths About Sexual Violence
There are many harmful myths surrounding sexual violence, rape, and sexual assault.
- Myth: “Rape is usually committed by strangers.”
Truth: Most victims know their attacker. Many assaults happen in relationships, families, or social situations. - Myth: “If the victim didn’t fight back, it wasn’t rape.”
Truth: Freezing is a common response to trauma. Lack of resistance does not mean consent. - Myth: “Only women are victims of sexual violence.”
Truth: People of all genders can be affected. Male survivors often face added stigma, but support is available for everyone.
Sexual violence, sexual assault, and rape are traumatic violations of a person’s body and autonomy. They are crimes, and survivors deserve to be believed, supported, and empowered to heal.
Whether the incident happened recently or years ago, it’s never too late to seek help.
You are not alone, and what happened to you is not your fault.