What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence is a term we use to describe any sexual activity that happened without consent. This is when something sexual happens to someone without them wanting it. There are lots of forms of sexual violence, such as, child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, unwanted touching, sharing of images without consent and sexual harassment.

When people hear the word ‘violence’, they often think of physical things such as punching, kicking, hitting, beating, or stabbing. But sexual violence doesn’t have to involve any of these things. It may involve emotional violence like name calling and controlling behaviours.

We use the word ‘violence’ because we believe it explains the serious and lasting impact that non-consensual sexual activity and acts can have on survivors.

However, we know that not everyone would use this word to describe what happened to them. If a survivor contacts us, we use words that are meaningful to them – not us.

Anyone can experience sexual violence.

It happens to people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, sexualities, faiths, and ethnicities. This includes children, older people, LGBT+ people, BME people and people with learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Research shows that the majority of survivors of sexual violence are women and girls, and that most perpetrators are male. However, men and boys can also experience sexual violence.

Researchers have different ideas about why people perpetrate sexual violence.

But whatever the reason or motive, there is never any excuse or justification for sexual violence.
All forms of sexual violence are serious crimes and can have a lasting impact on survivors. They cannot be explained away.

If you have experienced any form of sexual violence, know that it was not your fault. It doesn’t matter how long ago it happened, where you were, what you were doing, what you were wearing or whether you were drunk or had taken drugs – you are in no way to blame.