Sexual Abuse

‘Sexual abuse ' covers a wide range of unwanted sexual behaviors that are often used by offenders as a way to assert power and control over their victims. There are many myths around what constitutes sexual assault is. If someone is sexually assaulted, they might experience a range of emotions and it’s important to know there are support services that can help them. Sexual assault isn’t always about offenders getting pleasure from sex. It can also be about them enjoying asserting power and control over someone. Sexual abuse is a serious crime and is never the fault of the victim. It can include lots of things like rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment, online grooming and domestic abuse or violence. It can also include sexual exploitation (being pressure into having sex with someone in return for getting something like money or drugs), sexting or child pornography.