Between a quarter and a third of women will be seriously sexually assaulted or raped in their lifetime. Many will be assaulted by a man they know – either a colleague, partner or friend.
Sexual violence is not related to what you wear, how much you have drunk or your age. The responsibility for sexual violence lies solely with the perpetrator.
Not all cases of sexual assault involve violence, cause physical injury, or leave visible marks. Many victims freeze before or during an assault. This is a normal reaction.
Whatever your experience of sexual violence or assault, whether it was being grabbed in a nightclub or raped by someone you know, it can have a devastating impact on your mental health and feeling of safety and can take a long time to recover from.
Many women and girlsexperience multiple sexual assaults during their lifetime.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that 20 - 25% of women have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16, equivalent to an estimated 3.4 million female victims.
If you have experienced sexual assault either as a child or an adult, there is support for you.
Learn more
Read an interview and watch a short video in the Yorkshire Post where Jennifer Potter, survivor of sexual violence talks about her book, ‘Brave Souls’.
Visit Rape Crisis at: rapecrisis.org.uk
