"Sexual harassment doesn't just mean physical but also verbal abuse."
| Egi, aged 16
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Sexual Assault = anything sexual that's unwanted or unwelcome.
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That means any sexual behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened.
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It is sexual activity that the victim/survivor has not given free agreement to and it happens more often than most people think. Sexual assault usually involves the use of physical or emotional force and it is against the law.
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"Sexual Assault is more than just rape" Anna, aged 15
| "You have to get a person's consent to have sex with them" Abdul, aged 17
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All of these behaviours count as sexual assault...
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| e.g being forced to have vaginal, anal or oral sex
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| | e.g pinching, patting, embracing, rubbing, groping, flicking, being touched on the breasts, bum, legs etc.
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| | e.g rude comments about your sex life
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| | e.g pretending to masturbate in front of you
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| - Unwanted sexual comments or jokes
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| e.g comments about your body or your relationships
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| | e.g calling you a slut, dyke, homo, slag
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| - Pressure for dates or demand for sex
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| e.g invitations that turn into threats or not taking "no" for an answer
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| | e.g showing parts of their body to you or flashing their genitals
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| - Being forced to watch or participate in porn
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| e.g taking a photo without permission, forcing you to be on video, making you watch a movie
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| | e.g dirty notes, letters, phone messages, emails, SMS, pictures
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Checklist - What does it feel like afterwards?
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You might feel...
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| "I'm so jumpy all the time"
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| | "Will I ever be in control again?"
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| | "This is not how I wanted my first time to be"
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| | "I feel like I am going crazy"
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| | "I don't feel safe, I can't be myself"
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| | "I thought if I didn't he would leave me"
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| | "There's no one I can really trust anymore"
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| | | | "I feel so dirty, like there is something wrong with me now"
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| | "I hate him! I hate all men!"
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| | "I feel so tense, I am a nervous wreck!"
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| | "What will people think?"
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| | "I don't care about anything anymore"
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| | "I feel as if I did something to make this happen"
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| | "I'm so alone, I just want to hide within myself"
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Each person responds differently to sexual assault. You might have felt some of these things, or all or them,. If you are confused, it might help to talk it through with someone you trust. Lots of other people who have been sexually abused say talking helps.
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"A lot of people get sexually assaulted, more than you thought" David, aged 14
| "Guys get sexually assaulted too - I never knew that" Rina, aged 16
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