What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is an unwanted sexual act or activity. A sexual act or activity is sexual violence when:
- it is not done with consent: at least one of the partners did not agree to engage in the activity and/or;
- there is coercion: one of the partners is forced and/or;
- the partners are not equals. For instance: one partner has more power than the other, for example a doctor and a patient or a teacher and a student, one of the partners is younger than 18 or has a disabilityand the age difference is more than 5 years.
Some forms of sexual violence are:
- sexual harassment;
- indecent assault and rape;
- child abuse.
The person who commits sexual violence is most often a person known to the victim or a trusted person such as a family member, partner or friend. It can also be a complete stranger.
Sexual violence is a criminal offence in the Netherlands. But we also find undesirable sexual behaviour that is not punishable not acceptable. It is important to realise that sexually transgressive behaviour is never the victim’s fault. The one who crosses the line is at fault. The victim’s behaviour, how they dress, what they say or do are never an excuse for sexually transgressive behavior.