SEXUAL ASSAULT

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual act done by one person to another. Sexual assault is never OK and if it’s happened to you, know it’s not your fault. In essence, it is an act of violence committed by a person to feel power over another person. It can come in different forms:

Other forms of sexual violence include sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, voyeuristic behaviours and unwanted sexting.

If you’ve been sexually assaulted

Sexual assault of any type can be a very traumatic experience, even if you’re able to get away from the attacker. It’s important to remember:

It’s important to get support immediately.

Many communities have sexual assault or crisis lines that allow you to talk to someone about what you’re feeling. You can also talk to family, friends, teachers, counsellors, or someone else you trust. If you’re comfortable, you may choose to contact the police.

But contacting the police is your decision. If you’ve been sexually assaulted and are thinking about reporting it, here are some things to remember:

Common myths about sexual assault

Myth: It’s OK to force someone to have sex if they are drunk, wear provocative clothing or agree to go out on a date with the person.

Fact: It’s never OK to force someone to have sex. No reason justifies sexual assault – you must get consent every time.

Myth: Males always commit the sexual assaults.

Fact: People of any gender can commit sexual assault or be sexually assaulted.

Myth: Sexual assaults are usually committed by a stranger.

Fact: You’re more likely to be assaulted by someone you know than by a stranger. (This is called acquaintance sexual assault.)

What is consent?

At the core of sexual assault and rape is the issue of consent. By its most basic definition consent is to give permission for something to happen or be done. With this in mind we practice consent in nearly every social or interpersonal contacts we have throughout our days; from asking to sit next to a stranger on the bus to asking a friend if you can borrow money. These exchanges force us to engage with another person, to not assume their comfort level or response, to pay attention to their words as well as non-verbal cues and to abide by their answer, regardless of our feelings about it. In the case of sexual consent, it is no different.

Consent is also an ongoing process throughout a sexual encounter and can be withdrawn at any time. This means that a person can consent to oral sex but not consent to vaginal intercourse and if this occurs it can be considered sexual assault or rape.

Additionally, consent is never assumed, even in the context of a relationship. Past sexual activity, an intimate relationship or marriage does not provide blanket consent for future sexual activity.

_The impact of sexual violence on survivors _

Every person who experiences sexual violence responds to the trauma differently. This can be due to a variety of factors including past history with abuse or violence, personality traits, established coping strategies, support systems, relationship with the offender or even where the assault took place. It is important to understand that there is no right way for a survivor to respond to an assault and they may present for help and support either immediately following or it could be weeks, months or years later. Although there is no one way survivors will respond there are some common responses we tend to hear.

Common emotional responses:

Common physical responses:

Common long-term impacts:

_The impact of sexual violence on others _

Sexual violence tends to cause a ripple effect of trauma onto other people that the survivor knows and cares about; including anyone from family members and intimate partners to roommates or fellow school members. Acknowledging these far-reaching impacts allows us to remember that healing from this violence often includes providing support to secondary victims. Secondary victims can have many similar feelings as a survivor including shock, anger, a sense of vulnerability and helplessness. By validating these feelings and also providing them with resources to better understand the experience of the survivor and how to be most supportive, we are not only caring for their needs but also helping to create a supportive environment for the survivor to heal.

The impact of sexual violence on the community and society

When cases of sexual violence occur in schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods, campuses, and cultural or religious communities – many community members may feel fear, anger, or disbelief that this has happened to someone they know. This response can come from a place of shock that a person similar to them has been victimised as culturally many people still believe that victims are somehow different to themselves.

Additionally, there are financial costs to communities. These costs include medical services, criminal justice expenses, crisis and mental health services fees, and the lost contributions of individuals affected by sexual violence. Most importantly, the contributions and achievements that may never come as a result of sexual violence is a cost to society that can’t be measured.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault

Drug-facilitated sexual assault occurs when alcohol or drugs are used to compromise an individual’s ability to consent to sexual activity. These substances (called date rape drugs) create vulnerabilities in a person and make it easier for a perpetrator to commit sexual assault because of the victim’s limited ability to resist and, in some cases, remember the assault.

It is quite common for survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault to exhibit self-blame, especially when they weren’t forced to take, or were tricked into, taking the drug or alcohol. It is not the survivor’s fault as no one has the right to take advantage of another while they are vulnerable. Perpetrators use a variety of substances to incapacitate a victim:

Common signs a drug may have been ingested include the following:

If a person identifies any of these signs or believes they may have been drugged, it is important to preserve the evidence as quickly as possible. Many of these substances are processed through the body within 12–72 hours and therefore obtaining a blood or urine sample as soon as possible is critical.

Recovery from sexual assault

As traumatic as sexual assault is, it is important to emphasise that recovery is possible. However, it is vital to seek help, and the sooner after the assault the better. Ideally, a trained counsellor with knowledge of trauma counselling should be sought, but in the absence of a trained professional, a wise and trusted mentor or friend can be of great value in dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault.