What is Sexual Violence?
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s (NSVRC), “Sexual violence occurs when someone is forced or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity without their consent. Consent, by definition, means permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. Reasons someone might not consent include fear, age, illness, disability and/or influence of alcohol or other drugs. Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and elders. Those who sexually abuse can be acquaintances, family, trusted individuals or strangers; of these, the first three categories are most common.” Please click here to access the What is Sexual Violence article that offers a clear and concise explanation of forms of sexual violence, its impact, ways to prevent it and facts.
Additional resources about sexual violence:
- CDC Injury Prevention & Control: Division of Violence Prevention website offers definition of sexual violence, public health approach to prevention and access to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).
- The Impact of Sexual Violence fact sheet from NSVRC.
- It’s Time…to Connect provides information about sexual assault and how health care professionals can assist victims.
- It’s Time…to Connect provides information about sexual assault and how parents and caregivers can play a role in responding to victims
- Rape Myths and Facts from Washington University in St. Louis.
What will you do, Wyoming?
This project was supported by Grant No. 2020-WR-AX-0041 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.