April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Week One Theme: “Hurts One”

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault can be defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault includes rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), indecent assault (unwanted, inappropriate sexual contact or fondling), or attempts to commit these acts. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender. (SOURCE: OPNAVINST 1752.1B)

What is the legal definition of rape?

Rape is the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. (SOURCE: Attorney General Eric Holder press release 6 Jan 2012.)

FACT: Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2006-2010 is cited on this webpage.)

FACT: 1 in 4 girls will be sexually assaulted by the age of 18. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice. 2004 National Crime Victimization Survey. 2004.)

FACT: 1 in 6 women have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. (SOURCE: National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women Survey, 1998)

Myth: Sexual assault is a crime of passion and lust.

Fact: Sexual assault is a crime of violence. Assailants seek to dominate, humiliate and punish their victims. (SOURCE: Common Myths and the Facts that Dispel Them. (ND). The Voices and Faces Project. Retrieved from http://www.voicesandfaces.org/rape.asp)

Myth: Sexual assault is an impulsive act.

Fact: Seventy-five percent of all assaults are planned in advance. When three or more assailants are involved, 90% are planned. If two assailants are involved, 83% are planned. With one assailant, 58% are planned. (SOURCE: Common Myths and the Facts that Dispel Them. (ND). The Voices and Faces Project. Retrieved from http://www.voicesandfaces.org/rape.asp)

Myth: You cannot be assaulted against your will.

Fact: Assailants overpower their victims with the threat of violence or with actual violence. Especially in cases of acquaintance rape or incest, an assailant uses the victim’s trust in him to isolate her. (SOURCE: Common Myths and the Facts that Dispel Them. (ND). The Voices and Faces Project. Retrieved from http://www.voicesandfaces.org/rape.asp)

Myth: There is no one to contact for help.

Fact: Wrong. You can contact ―Safe Helpline‖ – they are a call, click or text away! You can call the Safe Helpline for live, one-on-one advice, support, information, and assistance that is anonymous, secure, and available 24/7 at 877-995-5247 (phone number is the same inside the U.S. or via the DSN) or go to http://www.SafeHelpline.org. They can also connect you with the SARC on your installation or base, and other military and civilian resources in your area.

Myth: Many women claim that they have been sexually assaulted because they want revenge upon the man they accuse.

Fact: Only 4-6% of sexual assault cases are based on false accusation. This percentage of unsubstantiated cases is the same as with many other reported crimes. (SOURCE: Common Myths and the Facts that Dispel Them. (ND). The Voices and Faces Project. Retrieved from http://www.voicesandfaces.org/rape.asp)

Effects of Sexual Assault on Victims

FACT: Victims of sexual assault are:

• 3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
• 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
• 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
• 26 times more likely to abuse drugs. 
• 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

(SOURCE: World Health Organization. 2002.)

FACT: According to medical reports, the incidence of pregnancy for one-time unprotected sexual intercourse is 5%. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice. 2005 National Crime Victimization Survey, 2005)