Has your partner or anyone else forced you to have sex or forced sexual acts onto you? Have you felt too worried or scared to say no to sex or sexual acts?
Sexual assault includes lots of forms of violence, not just being forced into penetrative sex (the legal definition of rape).
It can be anything from being forced into sex to being groped in a bar or shouted at in the street.
Sexual violence means any touching that you don’t want or that makes you feel uncomfortable, including when you don’t feel able to say no.
Sexual violence is never your fault, no matter what you were wearing, who you were with, where you went, or how much you had been drinking.
The person who commits the assault is always to blame for making the choice to commit assault.
If you suspect that a child may be at risk of sexual violence, then it is important that you report these concerns to children social care here or call children’s helpdesk on 01452 426565 and/or the police central referral unit here
A vast range of professionals including police officers, teachers and social workers now have a greater awareness of this abuse in Gloucestershire. If a child is at immediate risk ring the Police on 999.
If you have experienced sexual violence it is not your fault and there are local and national services that can provide support.
For professionals who would like to access more information and training visit the GSCB website www.gscb.org.uk
Sexual Harassment
If you are experiencing any unwanted attention that is sexual such as touching, groping, name calling, or sexual comments, you may be experiencing sexual harassment. Sexual Harassment can take place anywhere. It can happen in your workplace, at school or in the street.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature and can be perpetrated by people you know such as a partner, colleague or friend, or by a stranger. Sexual harassment can be threatening, and can make you feel very uncomfortable.
Sexual Harassment can be:
- Verbal… Comments about your body, name calling, unwelcome propositions, threats (whether carried out or not) and sexual jokes that you find offensive can all be sexual harassment.
- Written… Sexual notes, letters or texts , threatening or sexual e-mails can be sexual harassment.
- Physical… Unwanted touching, grabbing, rubbing, sexual gestures or threatening staring can be sexual harassment.
If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you have a legal right under the Sex Discrimination Act to take action. If you feel you have been sacked or forced to resign from your job as a result of harassment, you may also have a claim for unfair dismissal