Sexual Violence Awareness

Information

• ‌

  What is sexual violence?

  Sexual violence happens in every community and affects people of all genders and ages. It occurs when someone attempts, forces, manipulates, or coerces another person into sexual activity without their consent.

  Forms of sexual violence include:

  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual abuse
  • Unwanted sexual contact/touching
  • Sexual exploitation and sex trafficking
  • Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent
  • Nonconsensual image sharing and/or coercion (including AI-generated imagery) 
  • Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent (NSVRC)
• ‌

  What is consent?

  Consent is agreement or permission expressed through affirmative, voluntary words or actions that are mutually understandable to all parties involved, to engage in a specific sexual act at a specific time:

  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time, as long as it is clearly communicated.
  • Consent cannot be coerced or compelled by force, threat, deception or intimidation.
  • Consent cannot be given by someone who is incapacitated.
  • Consent cannot be assumed based on silence, the absence of “no” or “stop,” the existence of a prior or current relationship, or prior sexual activity. (Indiana University)
• ‌

  Fast Facts

  • Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted (RAINN).
  • Only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police, meaning more than 2 out of 3 go unreported. (Dept. of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2020).
  • Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence (Chen, et al., 2023).
  • 55% of sexual assaults occur at or near the victim-survivors’s home (Dept. of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2020).
  • 8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone the victim-survivor knows (Dept. of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2017).
  • Persons aged 12-34 are at the highest risk for rape and sexual assault (Dept. of Justice Programs, Sex Offenses and Offenders, 1997).
  • 94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the two weeks following the rape (Riggs, et al., 1995), and 30% report PTSD symptoms 9 months after rape (Connor, et al., 2003).
• ‌

  Help for victim-survivors

  There are numerous resources throughout the commonwealth to support victim-survivors. Contacting your local rape crisis center can put you in touch with professionals who are specially trained to support victim-survivors regardless of whether they choose to report abuse to law enforcement. They are here to listen and help you navigate available resources and the legal system. 

  • Locate your local rape crisis center

  • Find services available to you through your local rape crisis center

  • Obtain legal assistance

  • Apply for Victim's Compensation

• ‌

  Sexual violence protection orders

  A Sexual Violence Protection Order (SVPO) is designed to protect victim-survivors of sexual violence from further abuse and/or intimidation by their abuser, regardless of whether or not criminal charges have been filed against the perpetrator.

  An SVPO is similar to a Protection From Abuse Order (PFA), but the key difference lies in the relationship between the abuser and the victim-survivor.

  While PFAs require an intimate or household relationship between the two parties, a SVPO does not and is available to victim-survivors of sexual violence who are at continued risk of harm from their perpetrator. For example, an SVPO may be granted when the victim and perpetrator have these types of relationships:

  • Strangers
  • Acquaintances
  • Friends
  • Co-workers
  • Neighbors
  • Coach-athletes

  SVPOs can be filed regardless of the ages of the parties involved. However, if the victim is under 18, a parent, legal guardian, or an adult household member must file on the minor’s behalf.

  Victim-survivors may find it helpful to contact their local sexual assault or domestic violence advocacy program, legal services, and/or an attorney to review their options.

  Visit your local court to file or contact your local rape crisis center for assistance.

• ‌

  Learn more

  For local information: Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect

  For legal assistance: Pennsylvania Sexual Violence Legal Assistance Project

  For general information and 24/7 support: RAINN

  For housing protections for victim-survivors of abuse: HUD

  For information about Sexual Assault Forensic Exams: Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect

  For information about Pennsylvania Crime Victims’ Rights: Commonwealth of PA