So, What's Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is one of those terms that when we hear them, it’s like “it’s far away from me”, “It will never happen to me”, or even- “no one should talk about that in public”. Well, braze up! Sexual violence is more prevalent than we speak about it.
Do you know what sexual violence is? The World Health Organization defines sexual violence as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting. It includes rape, defined as the physically forced or otherwise coerced penetration of the vulva or anus with a penis, other body part or object, attempted rape, unwanted sexual touching and other non-contact forms” (WHO, 2023).
To be clear, sexual violence e can be experienced by anyone. However, women have been most impacted with the public health problem. According to the World Health Organization, one in three girls have experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Yet, sexual violence is grossly underreported, due to several structural and cultural factors.
Forms of sexual violence
- Rape or sexual assault
- Child sexual assault and incest
- Intimate partner sexual assault
- Unwanted sexual contact/touching
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual exploitation
- Showing one’s genitals or naked body to other(s) without consent
- Masturbating in public
- Watching someone in a private act without their knowledge or permission
References
Aborisade, R. A. (2022). COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence: Investigating the “shadow pandemic” of sexual violence during crisis lockdown in Nigeria. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 0306624X221102781. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X221102781
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Causes of Sexual Violence
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Your Voice Matters
Survivors have the power to inspire, support, and bring about change. Share your story anonymously to help others, contribute to the fight against sexual violence, and receive valuable advice. Your experience can make a difference.
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