What is sexual violence and abuse?

Sexual abuse is a general term that includes many acts such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery/prostitution.

• Sexual Assault is any sexual contact that is against a person’s will or without consent. This may be because of force, violence, manipulation or where the victim has been too intoxicated or too scared to give consent.
• Rape is when the vagina, anus or mouth is intentionally penetrated by the perpetrator’s penis without consent. It is also classed as rape if the perpetrator continued to penetrate you after you withdrew consent.

It is not relevant what relationship, if any, the perpetrator has or had with you, or if the perpetrator is your partner.