Sexual abuse and sexual assault
What is sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is when one person forces undesired sexual behaviour on another.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is when a person is forced or pressured into any sexual act which they don't consent to, that is immediate, of short duration or infrequent.
There are different types of sexual assault, including rape and attempted rape, child molestation and sexual harassment or threats. Rape is a form of sexual assault which involves penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth. Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault and help is available whether you are male or female, an adult or a child.
Most sexual assaults are carried out by someone who the victim knows and this can be a type of domestic abuse. Even if people are in a relationship, or have had sex with each other before, everyone has the right to be able to say no.
What is consent?
Consensual sex means that everyone taking part has agreed to it and knows what is involved. A person must understand what it is that they are agreeing to, so if someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs they are not able to give consent.
If someone feels pressured or forced to have sex this doesn't mean that they have given their consent. Even if someone agrees to have sex they can change their mind and decide to stop at any point.
What is child sexual exploitation?
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. This is where children and young people under 18 are in exploitative situations or relationships.
A child is sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This doesn’t have to be physical contact and it can happen online. Sometimes the child won’t understand that what’s happening to them is abuse. They may not even understand that it’s wrong.
Sometimes the young person will receive something such as food, drugs, gifts or affection as a result of them performing sexual activities.
Some children or young people may believe they’re in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol as part of ‘getting to know you' and this is also known as a ‘grooming process’. Grooming can also happen online. Sexual exploitation can also happen to young people in gangs.
Safe and Sound (Derby and Derbyshire) provide support, advice and information about CSE. Please find out more about how to get support for a young person at risk of sexual exploitation and to make a referral.
How do you know when you are being sexually abused?
If you’re worried in any way that you or someone else is being sexually abused, ask for support and advice from someone you trust. This might be a teacher, your doctor, local sexual health clinic or a school nurse.
If you are a child or young person and someone is involving you in any of the activities described here, please ask for help, this is NOT OK.
Child sexual abuse involves:
- Sexual touching of any part of your body, clothed or unclothed, including using an object
- Assault by penetration with an object or part of your body (this means putting something inside your body or mouth)
- Encouraging involvement in sexual activity, including sexual acts with someone else, making a child strip or masturbate (this means touching yourself)
- Intentionally engaging in sexual activity in front of you
- Not taking proper measures to prevent you from being exposed to sexual activities by others
- Meeting you following sexual grooming, with the intent of abusing you
- Taking, making, allowing someone to take, distributing, showing or advertising indecent images of children
- Paying you for sexual services
- Encouraging you into prostitution or pornography
- Showing you images of sexual activity, including photographs, videos or via webcams.
Who can you tell?
If you are being abused, or you are worried about a child who might be being abused, don’t wait until you’re certain – tell someone immediately. You can speak to any health professional or use the free NSPCC helpline to speak to one of their counsellors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 800 5000.
If you, a child or someone you know is in immediate danger, don’t delay – call the police on 999.
Further support for people during COVID-19 home restrictions
For further support for those living with domestic abuse during the stay at home restrictions, a multi-agency domestic violence support and information leaflet has been produced for Derby and Derbyshire, with contact details for a number of organisations which can offer help and advice.
Useful links
- SV2 - Derby and Derbyshire advice line 01773 746115 (7 days a week, 8am - 5pm)
- Women's Work - Contact the team for free, confidential support on telephone: 01332 242525 or email: info@womens-work.org.uk (Derby City and Derbyshire)
- Women's Aid - working in partnership with Refuge www.refuge.org.uk. Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247.
- Karma Nirvana - Helpline 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm)
- Metropolitan Police - Victim step by step guide
- Rights of women - free legal advice
- Survivors UK - for men who have been raped or sexually abused. Call 0203 5983 898 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm)
- The Survivors Trust - Call for support, advice and information 0808 801 0818
- Disrespect Nobody - For young people in abusive relationships
- Rape Crisis - For male and female victims of abuse, rape or sexual violence
- GALOP - Help and support relating to hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse. LGBT Domestic Violence Charity 0800 999 5428
- Childline - Freephone 24 hour helpline 0800 1111 and advice online for anyone under 19 years old
- East Midlands Children & Young People Sexual Assault Service - Here to help young people under the age of 18 who have experienced rape or sexual assault, including young adults with learning disabilities. Freephone 24 hour helpline 0800 183 0023.
- The Elm Foundation
- Men's Advice Line - Advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse 0808 801 0327
- Respect - Help for domestic violence perpetrators. Call freephone 0808 802 4040 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
- NHS Choices