Sexual Assault

Sexual assault can take many different forms, but one thing remains the same: it is carried out through coercion, by making the victim unable to defend themselves or to express will, or by taking advantage of this state. Therefore, it is never the victim’s fault.

What is sexual assault?

The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim. Sexual assault does not necessarily imply physically touching the victim, this can also be carried out by sending video materials with sexual content.

Some forms of sexual assault include:
 

• Unwanted touching with a sexual connotation, including inserting a finger into the oral cavity;
• Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as penetrating the perpetrator’s body; 
• Forcing the victim to follow an act of masturbation of the perpetrator or exposing the victim to the perpetrator’s genitals.

DANGER

More than one-third of the rape victims and half of the female victims of other sexual crimes in Great Britain, including grooming, harassing and sexual exploitation, are under the age of 16. According to www.rainn.org, girls aged between 10 and 14 are the most commonly reported victims. In Romania, such statistics are not yet available.

What is rape?

Rape is a severe form of sexual violence. The term „rape“ is used as a legal definition for  sexual intercourse, oral or anal intercourse carried out through coercion, by making the victim unable to defend themselves or to express will, or by taking advantage of this state. More precisely, it involves the penetration of a person’s vagina, anus or mouth without their consent.

What is coercion?

Coercion doesn’t always refer to physical force, but to the perpetrator’s authority or their manipulative profile. Sexual perpetrators may use emotional, psychological coercion, or manipulation, including through the development of a close relationship with their victims. 
Some perpetrators will use threats to induce fear, such as threatening to hurt the victim or their close ones.

Who are the perpetrators?

The majority of perpetrators are someone known to the victim. Studies showed that approximately eight out of ten sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. 
Most of the time, the perpetrators use precisely the relationship of trust generated by their status or a history they have with the victim, which is not necessarily of a romantic nature. 
The perpetrator might be a classmate, a neighbor, a friend, an acquaintance, however, no previous intimacies or other acts, such as kissing, do not imply consent for a future sexual act. 
In other cases, the victim may not know the perpetrator at all, and this type of sexual violence can occur in many different ways. In Romania, judges take into account these aspects when determining the penalties applied for committing these crimes, analyzing all possible aggravating circumstances or the personal circumstances of the perpetrator.

Forms of rape

• Blitz sexual assault: when a perpetrator rapidly and brutally assaults the victim with no prior contact, usually at night, in a public place. 
• Contact sexual assault: when a perpetrator contacts the victim and tries to gain their trust by flirting, luring the victim to a confined space where, through coercion, the sexual assault will occur. 
• Home invasion sexual assault: when a stranger breaks into the victim's home to commit the assault.

Victims of sexual assault often blame themselves for behaving in a way that encouraged the perpetrator. It’s important to remember that the victim is never to blame for the actions of a perpetrator, regardless of the degree of participation.
 

If you want to talk about sexual violence with a professional ready to help, send an email to: suport@visromania.eu