The term „sexual violence“ is an all-encompassing term that refers to crimes against freedom and sexual integrity, such as rape, sexual abuse, sexual intercourse with a minor, sexual corruption of minors, recruitment of minors for sexual purposes, and sexual harassment. It is important to take into account that there are also other crimes or forms of violence contained in special laws, which include in their content also sexual crimes. Although these acts are extremely severe, their devastating effects are often misinterpreted or ignored by the professionals with whom the victim comes into contact.
Sexual assault can take many different forms, but one thing remains the same: it is carried out through coercion, by making the victim unable to defend themselves or to express will, or by taking advantage of this state. Therefore, it is never the victim’s fault.
Child sexual abuse is one of the most severe forms of sexual violence, being accompanied by a variety of symptoms of adaptation and concealment of the abuse.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, no matter the age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted or abused may have many of the same feelings and reactions as other victims of sexual assault, but they may also face some additional challenges because of social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity.
Most often, sexual violence is perpetrated by someone a victim knows, and this also includes the intimate partner (whether an ex or a current one). There are many different terms to refer to sexual violence that occurs within intimate partnerships, including: intimate partner sexual violence, domestic violence, intimate partner rape, marital/spousal rape.
Incest involves the consensual relationship between direct relatives (grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren), brothers and sisters. The Romanian Criminal Code provides for punishments between 1 and 5 years for each of the participants. However, if you’ve experienced sexual abuse by a family member, remember, you are not alone, and what happened to you is not your fault. In order to speak out about abuse, the same methods should be applied as in the case of rape or sexual assault, following the recommendations above.
In most cases of drug-facilitated sexual violences, victims often blame themselves. Remember, you are not to blame. You are the only one allowed to make choices for your body. Using drugs or alcohol is never an excuse for sexual assault and does not mean that it was your fault.
If you want to talk about sexual violence with a professional ready to help, we are here.
We give voice and power to victims of sexual violence. We see the effects of our interventions in communities facing sexual predators. We approach all cases of sexual violence that come to us with empathy, depth and professionalism.
If you have an urgent question, we encourage you to use our available resources promptly, you can contact us via phone, chat or email.
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This platform was developed within the project "Friendly justice for child victims of sexual abuse" with the support of UNICEF Romania.The opinions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of UNICEF Romania.
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