About Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any behaviour of a sexual nature which is unwanted and which takes place without consent or understanding or when coercion is used to obtain consent.

It may not be violent but will always be violating.

What is Sexual Violence?

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 notes ‘consent’ as when a person chooses to participate and ‘has the freedom and capacity to make that choice.’ Without consent, any kind of sexual activity is sexual violence.

Forms of sexual violence include attempted rape; unwanted sexual touching; forcing  sexual acts upon someone, including oral sex; penetration of the victim’s body, also called rape. (Rape is a form of sexual violence but not all sexual violence is rape.)

Sexual violence can be perpetrated in different ways. The long-term effects of sexual violence can include many emotional, psychological and physical conditions. The experience of sexual violence and abuse at any age can have devastating effects on every aspect of a person’s being and life.

Further definitions

Historical Abuse ShowHide

Child Sexual Abuse ShowHide

Ritual Abuse ShowHide

Domestic Violence ShowHide

The impact of sexual violence

Understanding the impacts of sexual trauma ShowHide

Coping with sexual trauma ShowHide

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