Sexual Assault

What is it?

"Sexual Assault" is a term that is used to describe a class of involuntary sexual acts in which a person is threatened, coerced or forced to engage in against their will, or any sexual touching to which a person has not consented. Sexual assault does not require penetration.

The National Center for Victims of Crime states that "sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape, attempted rape, as well as unwanted sexual contact or threates.  Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person's consent."

Sexual assault involves power and control.  Only partners with equal power can freely consent. 

Some forms of sexual assault include:

• Attempted rape

• Fondling or unwanted sexual touching

• Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator’s body

• Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape

SA Facts

• 68% of sexual assault are NOT reported to authorities.

• In approximately  4/5 of of sexual assaults, the perpetrator knows the victim.

• An estimated 47% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance of the victim.

• Around 1 in 3 women will be the victim of rape in her lifetime.

• Around 1 in 6 men will be the victim of rape in his lifetime.

• Every 98 seconds, another person experiences sexual assault.

• About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

• 55% of rapes happen in or near the victim's home.