What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence takes many forms including sexual harassment, verbal abuse, leering, threats, exposure, unwanted touching, incest, rape, mutilation and ritual abuse.

Sexual violence is a crime.

Any sort of unwanted sexual behaviour that is imposed on someone is a form of sexual violence. Sexual violence is about the use of power or force to intimidate or control others.

One in three women internationally will suffer rape or attempted rape during her lifetime. (UN News Centre 2008, UN-backed TV series peels back silence surrounding worldwide sexual violence United Nations, New York, viewed 5 June 2008)

All women are effected by the possibility of sexual violence.

Sexual Violence is a Gendered Crime

The overwhelming majority of perpetrators of sexual assault are men - with various sources of data showing from 93-99% of reported abusers being male.
(Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Sexual Assault in Australia: A statistical overview, Cat. no. 4523.0, ABS Canberra, pp. 43-44)

78% of those who expereinced sexual assault since the age of 15, were women.
(calculated using figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics August 2006, Personal Safety Survey Australia 2005, Cat. no. 4906.0, Canberra, p. 7)

Women and children are often sexually violated by someone they know.

Men who choose acts of sexual violence look, act and indeed are ordinary men who come from all walks of life. Many of society's beliefs and practices teach us that it is acceptable for men to dominate and control women. Sexual violence is a way in which many men choose to exert power and control over women and children.

Breaking the Silence

Many people in our society hold false ideas about sexual violence. Too often, blame for rape is shifted from the offender to the victim. The reality is that sexual violence can be hard to talk about. Many women and children are silenced and unsupported.

The reality is that sexual violence can have long term effects.

The reality is that married and single women, sex workers, women of all ages from babies to grandmothers, women of all class, culture, religion and sexuality experience sexual violence.

Sexual violence is used as a weapon in war, in racial violence and in everyday life.

As women supporting each other, we can expose the myths, break the silence and help dispel feelings of isolation, fear and guilt.

Community Education and Development

Sexual violence is a whole community problem.

We are committed to community education and development through collaborative consultation and workshops with schools, professionals and community groups in order to improve responses to women and children affected by sexual violence.

We provide opportunities for women to network with other women and participate in creative community arts projects, personal safety programs and social justice action. Together we can create safe communities for all.

We all have the right to be safe...
together we can help end sexual violence.