Types of Sexual Violence

Rape is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Legal Definition of Rape

The Legal definition of rape is ‘When a person penetrates another person’s vagina, anus or mouth with a penis, without consent’

Rape and Consent

What separates sex to rape is consent.

The legal definition of consent is when we agree by choice and when someone has the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

If you body froze, unable to move or speak, you did not give consent.

If you said ‘Yes’ to an act or activity because you feared for yours or your loved ones life or safety, you did not give consent.

Someone cannot give their consent when they are

• Asleep
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Coerced
• Scared

Find you more about consent here.

Anyone can be a perpetrator of rape, including your partner. It can happen in a relationship too and often this is confusing and difficult to accept.

Sexual Assault is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Legal Definition of Sexual Assault

The Legal definition of Sexual Assault is ‘An act of physical, psychological and emotional violation in the form of a sexual act, inflicted on someone without consent. It can involve forcing or manipulating someone to witness or participate in any sexual acts.’

Penetration of another person’s vagina or anus with any body part, or object, without consent is defined as ‘sexual assault by penetration’. This crime carries the same sentence as rape.

Anyone can be a perpetrator of sexual assault, including your partner. It can happen in a relationship too and often this is confusing and difficult to accept.

Find our more about consent here.

Child Sexual Abuse is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Child Sexual Abuse is an abuse of power and trust, it can happen to girls and boys.

Sexual abuse of a child can be by an adult or another child and can be in person or online.

Often the perpetrator is someone they know and trust.

A child or young person is forced or tricked into sexual activities and often they might not understand that what’s happening to them is abuse or that it is wrong.

They may be afraid to speak out in fear of not being believed or the perpetrator may of threatened bad things to happen if they did speak out.

It is common for adult survivors of child sexual abuse to sometimes not remember the abuse until many years later or feel confused as they only remember parts, this type of memory dissociation is a coping mechanism for trauma.

Adult survivors of child sexual abuse may experience a range of long-term effects such as:

• Depression, anxiety, flashbacks
• Shame, guilt and confusion
• Triggers by objects, smells, sounds, songs etc
• Self harm and self neglect
• Difficulty in showing emotion or hold a lot of emotion
• Unexplained illnesses and physical symptoms

If you recognise some of these effects in yourself or a loved one, this may evoke memories or emotion in you. Please remember it was not your fault.

You are not alone and support is available.

If you feel a child is at risk of sexual abuse, please contact NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or to report sexual abuse, call 999.

Upskirting is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Upskirting can happen to anyone. It is a an invasion of your body, without consent. This typically involves someone taking a picture under someone’s clothing without their knowledge, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks (with or without underwear).

This can happen anywhere at anytime but British Transport Police have seen a rise in reports on public transport. 

On 12^TH April 2019, Upskirting became a criminal offence in England and Wales.  Perpetrators can face up to two years in prison and will be placed on sex offender register.

Gina Martin, campaigned tirelessly for 18 months to criminalise this act after she was targeted at a festival in 2017.

Sexual Harassment is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Sexual Harassment is any unwelcomed sexual advances, request for sexual favours or verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature.

• This could be unwanted flirting, ‘banter’
• Sexually degrading comments or gestures
• Inappropriate questions i.e. sex life, sexuality etc
• Offensive jokes or propositions i.e offering rewards for sexual favours
• Touching someone in anyway against their will
• Someone showing you explicit pictures 

Sexual Harassment happens everywhere, everyday.

It is especially common at work and in public spaces.

It’s important to remember, it is not your fault.

You are not alone and support is available.

Revenge Porn is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Revenge Porn is the sharing of private, sexual materials, either photographs or videos, of another person without their consent.

It is important to remember, it is not your fault.

You are not alone and support is available.

UK SAYS NO MORE’s partner Revenge Porn Helpline offer support and guidance on reporting Revenge Porn. Revengepornhelpline.org.uk

Stalking is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Stalking is a series of unwanted and persistent attention that makes you feel unsafe, harassed, anxious or scared.

This could include:

• Following you repeatedly
• Making unwanted contact
• Giving unwanted gifts
• Threatening you or a loved one/ pet
• Damaging your property or a loved ones property.

Trust yourself and your instincts.

You can find further information here.

Human Trafficking (Also known as Sex Trafficking) is one type of Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transport or harbouring of people by means of coercion, deception, threat, force or fraud, with the aim of exploiting them sexually, commercially or through labour.

Those who are trafficked have little choice in what happens to them and often have threats made against them or their loved ones to sustain their silence.

Signs of Sexual Exploitation may be:

• May appear scared and frightened
• May always be accompanied by or have relationships that don’t make sense i.e an older boyfriend of girlfriend
• May be reluctant to make eye contact and be closely guarded
• May be living at an address with multiple different people
• May have bruising, cigarette burns, scarring
• May be ‘branded’ with a tattoo or a scar indicating ownership

It is important to remember, it is not your fault.

You are not alone and support is available.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one type of Sexual Violence.

Sexual Violence is a term used to encompass any type of unwanted sexual act or activity.

FGM comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

From infancy to 15 years of age is when most girls are forced to undergo FGM. FGM is recognised as child abuse and a human rights violation, it is illegal in the UK.

It can cause a range of long term physical and psychological effects.

If you have been effected by FGM, know that it is not your fault.

Your are not alone and support is available.