What is sexual violence?
Sexual violenceSexual violenceCoercing someone with violence, usually physical, into having sex. For example, assaulting or raping…Read more 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 coercionCoercionForcing someone to do or undergo something, for example by violence or threats…Read more: one of the partners is forced and/or;
- the partners are not equals. For instance: one partnerPartnerPerson you are in a relationship with.Read more has more power than the other, for example a doctorDoctorSomeone who is trained to cure sick people. Doctors can prescribe medicines. A…Read more 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 harassmentSexual harassmentSexual harassment refers to comments, gestures and actions that are sexual in nature…Read more;
- indecent assault and rape;
- child abuse.
The person who commits sexual violence is most often a person known to the victimVictimSomeone who suffers from something which is not their fault.Read more 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.