02/05/2023
Police Oracle
Continuing a series of articles for WWO, Anjum Mouj says Identifying and responding to sexual violence is crucial to providing support and justice to survivors.
Sexual violence can take many forms, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. It is important to be aware of the signs of sexual violence, which can include physical injuries, changes in behaviour, or emotional distress.
Rape: A person (A) commits an offence of rape if: he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, B does not consent to the penetration and A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
Assault by Penetration: A person (A) commits an offence if: she or he intentionally penetrates the vagina or anus of another person (B) with a part of her or his body or anything else, the penetration is sexual, B does not consent to the penetration and A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
Sexual Assault: A person (A) commits an offence of sexual assault if: she/he intentionally touches another person (B), the touching is sexual, B does not consent to the touching and A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent: A person (A) commits an offence if: she or he intentionally causes another person (B) to engage in an activity, the activity is sexual, B does not consent to engaging in the activity, and A does not reasonably believe that B consents (this could include forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party.)
Consent is about having the freedom and capacity to choose. Consent to sexual activity may be given to one sort of sexual activity but not another, e.g.to vaginal but not anal sex or penetration with conditions, such as wearing a condom. Consent can be withdrawn at any time during sexual activity and each time activity occurs. Someone consents to vaginal, anal or oral penetration only if she/he agrees by choice to that penetration and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
Education and awareness-raising are important in preventing sexual violence. This can include providing information and resources to young people and adults about consent, healthy relationships, and the importance of reporting sexual violence.
It is important to remember that sexual violence is a serious issue that affects many people, and that support, and resources are available to survivors. By recognising the signs of sexual violence, providing support and resources, reporting the crime, holding perpetrators accountable, and educating and raising awareness, we can work together to prevent sexual violence and support survivors.
Advocate for changes in policies and practices to prevent sexual violence, and to ensure that survivors receive the support and justice they deserve. Remember that sexual violence is never the victim's fault, and that everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse.
Sexual violence can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological impacts on the victim. Various organisations have put in place measures to identify and respond to sexual violence.
Victims of sexual violence are often reluctant to report the crime due to fear of stigma, shame, and lack of trust in the criminal justice system. Encouraging victims to report the crime can help to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Victims of sexual violence require support from trained professionals, including counselling and medical treatment. Various organisations in the UK provide specialised services for victims of sexual violence. Significant effort is needed to ensure the system is safe for women and takes their concerns seriously. Sexual Violence and the way the system responds is impacted by attitudes of sexism, racism and misogyny. Accountability is needed.
Raising awareness about sexual violence can help to reduce the incidence of the crime. Public education campaigns, training for professionals, and community outreach programs can all contribute to raising awareness.
Addressing the root causes of sexual violence, such as gender inequality, can help to prevent the crime. Education programs aimed at promoting gender equality and challenging harmful attitudes can contribute to addressing the root causes.
What schools and colleges should be aware of[1]:
Sexual violence and sexual harassment can occur between two or more children of any age and sex, from primary through to secondary stage and into college. It can occur also through a group of children sexually assaulting or sexually harassing a single child or group of children. Sexual violence and sexual harassment exist on a continuum and may overlap, they can occur online and face-to-face (both physically and verbally) and are never acceptable.
Schools and colleges should be aware of the importance of:
Making clear that there is a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and sexual harassment, that it is never acceptable, and it will not be tolerated. It should never be passed off as “banter”, “just having a laugh”, “a part of growing up” or “boys being boys”. Failure to do so can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviour, an unsafe environment and in worst case scenarios a culture that normalises abuse, leading to children accepting it as normal and not coming forward to report it.
Whilst any report of sexual violence or sexual harassment should be taken seriously, staff in schools should be aware it is more likely that girls will be the victims of sexual violence and sexual harassment and more likely it will be perpetrated by boys. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are also three times more likely to be abused than their peers.
Sexual harassment
When referring to sexual harassment we mean ‘unwanted conduct of a sexual nature’ that can occur online and offline Sexual harassment is likely to: violate person’s dignity, and/or make them feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated and/or create a hostile, offensive or sexualised environment.
Whilst not intended to be an exhaustive list, sexual harassment can include:
Sexual comments, such as: telling sexual stories, making lewd comments, making sexual remarks about clothes and appearance, and calling someone sexualised names, sexual “jokes” or taunting.
Physical behaviour, such as: deliberately brushing against someone, interfering with someone’s clothes. Schools and colleges should be considering when any of this crosses a line into sexual violence – it is important to talk to and consider the experience of the victim.
It also includes:
The Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 which amends the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to make upskirting a specific offence of voyeurism. The Act came into force on 12 April 2019.
Sexual harassment creates a culture that, if not challenged, can normalise inappropriate behaviours and provide an environment that may lead to sexual violence.
Hackett et al 2013[2] study of children and young people with harmful sexual behaviour suggests that two- thirds had experienced some kind of abuse or trauma and sexual harassment.
The impact of sexual harassment can disrupt educational attainment and impact attendance, and can have emotional and mental health impacts, cause anxiety and depression, make a young woman or girl feel unsafe in her environment and have physical health symptoms. These can be long lasting.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection command: CEOP is a law enforcement agency which aims to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse. Online sexual abuse can be reported on their website and a report made to one of its Child Protection Advisors
The NSPCC provides a helpline for professionals at 0808 800 5000 and help@nspcc.org.uk.
If someone discloses that they have experienced sexual violence, it is important to provide support and resources. This can include listening without judgement, offering medical care and counselling, and connecting them with local support organisations such as Rape Crisis[3].
Sexual violence is a crime, and it is important to report it to the police. Victims can report anonymously or confidentially through organisations such as the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)[4] or the Survivors Trust[5].
In summary, identifying and responding to sexual violence requires a multi-faceted approach, involving education, awareness-raising, support services, and addressing the root causes.
Anjum Mouj is a skilled consultant and trainer. Between 1987 and 2000 she worked for a number of voluntary sector groups including the London Black Women’s Project, a national Domestic and Sexual Abuse project that supports women and girls fleeing violence and abuse, where she managed major government funded projects. She currently works with the NSPCC, the Premier League and EW Consultancy to develop and deliver bespoke courses as a lead trainer, focusing particularly on unconscious bias, Domestic Abuse safeguarding adults and children and child protection, including working with trauma and chronic post-traumatic stress. Anjum is on the Board of Trustees for Queer Britain, Imaan Muslim LGBTQi Group and a non-executive Director of Red Snapper Group.
Notes
[1] https://www.keepingchildrensafeineducation.co.uk/part_five_ch_sex_viol.html
[2] Individual, Family and Abuse Characteristics of 700 British Child and Adolescent Sexual Abusers
Simon Hackett, Josie Phillips, Helen Masson, Myles Balfe – First published: 27 February 2013
[3] https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
[4] https://napac.org.uk/
[5] https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/ 08088 010818