SEXUAL ASSAULT

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is a criminal offence. When one person forces sexual activity including kissing, fondling, intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex on another, it is sexual assault. Sexual assault sometimes involves physical injury but not always. Not all physical injuries can be seen. It may or may not involve the threat of a weapon (real or imitation). A person is at a higher risk of being assaulted in their own home. The woman often knows the person who assaulted her as an acquaintance, friend, neighbor, date, classmate, co-worker or relative.

Why does it happen?

Violence is often used by individuals or groups with power to control less powerful and more vulnerable individuals or groups. Assaults often involve a demonstration of power, domination, aggression and humiliation. Sexual assault is a crime of violence that has nothing to do with sex. We should not be surprised that women are the most common targets of sexual assault, for they have traditionally held less social, economic, and political power than men.

Forms and Circumstances of Sexual Violence

A wide range of sexually violent acts can take place in different circumstances and settings. These include, for example:

·                     rape within marriage or dating relationships;

·                     rape by strangers;

·                     systematic rape during armed conflict;

·                     unwanted sexual advances or sexual harassment, including demanding sex in return for favours;

·                     sexual abuse of mentally or physically disabled people;

·                     sexual abuse of children;

·                     forced marriage or cohabitation, including the marriage of children;

·                     denial of the right to use contraception or to adopt other measures to protect against sexually transmitted diseases;

·                     forced abortion;

·                     violent acts against the sexual integrity of women, including female genital mutilation and obligatory inspections for virginity;

·                     forced prostitution and trafficking of people for the purpose of sexual exploitation

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