Sexual Violence

What is it?

Sexual violence (or sexual abuse) is any unwanted sexual act, sexual advance or comment, as well as other interactions of a sexual nature committed by one person against another, and in opposition to the other person’s will.

Violência Sexual  
Sexual violence may be committed by different people:
  • by strangers;
  • by someone you know ( classmate, neighbour, etc.);
  • by someone close (family member; friend; boyfriend/girlfriend; past boyfriend/past girlfriend);
  • by an adult against a child or teenager;
  • between adults;
  • between young people;
  • by a male or female.

Sexual violence may take place in different contexts:
  • at home;
  • at school;
  • at the street;
  • at the internet;
  • ...

May also take place in different relationships:
  • intimate relationships:family relationships; dating relationships; friendships, for example;
  • casual relationships (e.g. one night stand);
  • formal relationships (e.g. between work colleagues).

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The offender may use different strategies to commit sexual violence:
  • physical strength or violence;
  • threats and/or blackmailing, humiliating or intimidating (e.g. threatening to hurt someone close to the victim, threatening to reveal something personal about the victim);
  • taking advantage of the trust he/she has with the victim for the purpose of sexually assaulting (this is what happens in many situations of sexual violence where the victim and the offender are family members);
  • taking advantage of their greater power or authority to pressurise the victim (e.g., when a boss or supervisor uses his/her status to force their employees to practice sexual acts);
  • putting the victim in a state in which they are unable to resist what is happening (e.g. when sexual violence is committed after intoxicating the victim with alcohol or drugs).

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SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT FORCED SEX.
There are several acts of a sexual nature that may be seen as violence:

  • unwanted intimate touches, such as kissing, fondling or groping, including touching  private parts;
  • comments or jokes of a sexual nature that cause discomfort or fear;
  • being forced  to touch another person intimately;
  • being penetrated by penis, other body parts (e.g. fingers) or objects;
  • being forced to have sexual intercourse with another person or to practice oral sex with her/him;
  • being forced to watch or participate in movies, photographs or pornographic performances;
  • being forced into prostitution.

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IF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS COMMITTED BY AN ADULT AGAINST A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON UNDER 16 IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER OR NOT THE VICTIM HAS SHOWN WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN SEX.

In Scotland the age of consent is 16 – so any sexual activity between an adult and someone under 16 is a criminal offence. 

Sexual intercourse and oral sex between young people aged 13-15 are also offences, even if both partners consented.  
A range of specific offences are in place to protect children under 13, who cannot legally give their consent to any form of sexual activity.