Support services for sexual abuse (including online sexual abuse)
Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual act or activity, this includes:
Sexual abuse can be perpetrated by:
- a stranger,
- or by someone known and even trusted, like a
- friend,
- colleague,
- family member,
- partner or ex-partner.
Sexual abuse can happen to anyone. No-one ever deserves or asks for it to happen.
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Sexual coercion
The act of using pressure, alcohol or drugs, or force to have sexual contact with someone against their will and includes persistent attempts to have sexual contact with someone who has already refused.
Examples of sexual abuse/sexual harassment
- Continuing to touch/kiss someone who looks awkward or freezes
- Repeatedly asking someone to share ‘nudes’ when they have avoided the conversation or not acknowledged the request
- Someone making sexual comments about you and you feel uncomfortable
- Putting someone under pressure to have sexual contact with you
- Someone who gives you a gift and expects you to perform a sexual act in return
- Believing someone means ‘yes’ when they have said ‘no’
Rape myths
Rape myths are damaging myths about sexual abuse which can leave the victim feeling shame, guilt and prevent them accessing support because they fear being judged or not believed. These myths are believed by friends, family and society, which can affect how the victim is treated if they disclose the abuse. It is extremely important to challenge rape myths so that people better understand sexual abuse and victims feel able to tell someone about abuse.
Examples of rape myths
- She was too drunk, she shouldn’t have got herself in that state and then she wouldn’t have been raped
- Men can’t get raped
- Women lie about rape because they regret having sex
- There’s no scratches on him and she didn’t fight him off, so it wasn’t rape
- She was wearing revealing clothes; she wanted the sexual attention
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Support organisations
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VAWG service directory
You can find lots of other useful services on the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) service directory homepage.