Sexual Abuse Many forms but often devastating consequences

Sexual abuse is a term that is used for all sexual activities that someone is forced to take part in, in an inequitable situation (this means that the other is more powerful, stronger, older, or you are dependent on that person). It can consist of sexual assault, rape, sexual molestation, (online) sexual exploitation, sexual harassment.

Words - Dr Marcel De Roos

Sexual assault means that you are forced to touch the sexual organs of somebody else, or that you are being sexually touched without consent. It could be that you at first agree with sexual contact, but that you change your mind. If the other person persists in sexual contact then it is sexual assault. Rape means the unwanted non-consensual entering (with or without force) of your body with a penis, finger or object inside your vagina, mouth or anus. We speak of sexual molestation when an adult or older child has any sexual activity with a child or minor. There is always inequality: the perpetrator makes use of the age difference or his or her power. The vast majority of the offenders are known persons of the victims. It often starts with “grooming”: to build an emotional relationship with a child or minor in order to sexually abuse them. Sexual exploitation happens nowadays mostly online. It’s when someone, against your will, has put your nude pictures/videos online and threatens to send them to others. Another form is when somebody blackmails you and demands that you send your nudes to that person, or forces you to perform sexual acts with yourself in front of the webcam. It can involve grooming or cat fishing: a person presents him- or herself with a false identity in order to build a relationship.