Sexualized violence

Sexual violence means using sexuality as a means of power. Perpetrators devalue, humiliate, and degrade their victims in order to feel powerful for themselves.

Sexual violence occurs in all social classes. The number of unreported cases is very high. Sexual violence includes sexual harassment, sexual coercion, rape, and sexual violence against children. Consensual violent sexual practices are not included.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is widespread in our society. It occurs in public, at work, in schools and training, in social institutions, at home, on the internet, or on the telephone. It restricts people's personal freedom. They avoid certain places, routes, or situations to avoid being insulted, harassed, or threatened.

Sexual harassment is encouraged by the devaluation of women and girls in the media and advertising, but also by misogynistic language.

Sexual coercion

Sexual coercion occurs when a person is forced against their will to engage in sexual acts, certain sexual practices, or to view or participate in the creation of pornographic material.

rape

Rape is the most extreme form of sexual violence and a particularly serious violation of the physical integrity of the victims. It involves penetration of the person's body against their will.

Perpetrators of sexual violence are usually found in the social environment: friends, acquaintances, partners and relatives, colleagues, coaches, and caregivers. Most sexual assaults do not occur in a "dark park" but in the home, in social institutions, or other familiar settings. Sexual assaults also occur in therapy or counseling sessions.

Sexual violence against children

Sexual violence against children refers to sexual acts committed against the will of or in front of children and adolescents. The victims are developmentally inferior to the perpetrators and dependent on them.

Human trafficking, ritual violence and sexual violence in war

At the Human traffickingPeople become victims of sexual violence through abduction, rape, and forced into prostitution. Children are also affected, being sexually exploited or offered and sold for the production of child pornography.

Ritual violence in sects and cults includes physical, sexual and psychological forms of violence that are systematically and purposefully carried out within the framework of ceremonies.

In armed conflicts, systematic rape of women and girls is used by soldiers and armies as a weapon of war to demonstrate their power.