Rape and
sexual abuse
Sexual violence is common in the UK and can occur anywhere, regardless of setting or relationship.
Perpetrators of sexual violence can be anyone
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Crime in plain sight
Including family members, friends, intimate partners, colleagues, religious leaders, or strangers.
The violence can take place in any setting
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That includes rape, sexual assault, harassment, and other forms of sexual coercion. These acts can involve forced or coerced penetration, unwanted touching, or any sexual act that happens without consent
Sexual violence is not just a physical violation
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It also deeply harms a person’s emotional, psychological, and mental well-being, leaving lasting effects that go beyond the body
Sexual violence can happen in any relationship
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Perpetrators may hold power or authority over the survivor, making it more difficult for them to seek help or speak out
What is sexual
violence?
Sexual violence is any act, or attempted act, that violates a person’s sexual autonomy, dignity, and sense of safety through force, coercion, or manipulation, regardless of the relationship between the survivor and the person responsible.
WHAT DOES Consent mean?
Consent – or rather, the lack of it – is at the heart of crimes of sexual violence. In the UK, the legal definition of consent is outlined in the Sexual Offences Act 2003:
This means consent must be given willingly, without any coercion, manipulation, or pressure. The person must also make that decision freely, without being impaired by things like intoxication, fear, or coercion. Additionally, consent can be withdrawn at any time during sexual activity, and if it is, the activity must stop immediately.
If a woman is drunk, drugged, has a limited mental capacity, is forced, imprisoned, coerced, terrified, asleep, or in a coma, she is not capable of being able to give consent, (This list is not exhaustive).
rESPONSIBILITY OF THE ACCUSED
In the UK, it is the responsibility of the person accused of sexual activity to prove that they had a reasonable belief that the other person consented. This means survivors didn’t have to say ‘no’ or have tried to fight the perpetrator off.
CONSENT
"A person consents if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice."
CONSENT AND CHILDREN UNDER 13
In the UK, children under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to any sexual activity, including sexual intercourse, sexual assault, or any form of sexual touching, no matter what they may believe or how they may behave.
Any sexual act involving a child under 13 is automatically a sexual offence.
HOW CAN I BE SURE I CONSENTED
If you feel unsure about whether you consented, it may be a sign that something was not right.
Consent should never be uncertain or given out of obligation or fear. You have the right to feel confident in your choices, and if you’re unsure or uncomfortable, it may mean that you were not fully able to give consent.
TRUST YOUR FEELINGS AND YOUR BODY
If you have doubts or if something doesn’t feel right, it’s valid to question whether you truly consented. Your sense of safety, control, and autonomy are important, and you deserve to be in situations where they are respected.