Sexual Abuse

Sexual violence happens when oen person doesn´t respect another person and tries to make him or her do sexual activities that he or she does not desire.

Prevention of Sexual Abuse

Most people wish to have relationships where they find respect, open comunication and a lot of trust. This is because in healthy relationships the couple respects the different believes of the other, the communication of feelings and they trust that they can count on the other. There is no pressure between each other, both are honest, respectful, responsible and treat each other evenly.

For the relationships to be healthy, the couple should decide together how they will be responsible of their relationship and the consequences of the decision they make about sex.

Unfortunately, not all relationships are healthy. Some people can obligate the partner to have sexual relationships or do sexual acts that goes against their will. This type of relationship is unhealthy for both partners and it can be said that they constitute sexual abuse.

Sexual Aggression is any violent sexual behavior that hurts physically and emotional.

Sexual abuse is any type of sexual behavior done against the willingness of the victim. These abusive conducts can be done with or without physical contact. This means it's not limited to intercourse. Among them could be listen, observe or pet, touch sexual organs of other person without their permission and intercourse. Abusers can be of both genders. Most of the times are people that the victim knows, maybe friends or family.

When someone forces another to have sexual intercourse, this is called rape. If it's a husband that forces his wife it's called marital rape. When it's done by a friend, a date or a lover it's called date rape. Incest is how you call sexual relationships between blood related people (family).

All these crimes are serious and punishable by law. Even though, a lot of times victims don't report these crimes because they feel ashamed to talk about it. Sometimes they feel (or are forced to feel) that they are guilty of the rape or the abuse they suffered.

We have been taught to always respect adults, and to obey what our parents or other relatives tell us, that's why it can be very confusing for some children and teenagers the idea of sexual abuse from an adult. But no one (o matter who it is) has the right to sexually touch someone else without their permission.

More serious consequences occur when the abuse is done in home, because the concept of affection and caring is distortioned in the children and teenager. Because the victim will conceptualize caring and affection as a sexualized affection. Because of threatens and manipulation received by the abuser, the victim can feel guilty (feel he/she was the cause and responsible of the abuse). Sexual abuse can cause emotional trauma, sleeping disorders, isolation, depression, memory and attention disorders, phobias, and later in life a traumatic sexual life, promiscuity or prostitution.

Sexual abuse survivors are not guilty of what they suffered. It can be difficult to talk about the abuse, but any sexual abuse victim should be encourage to talk about it to a parent, a friend, a teacher, a counsellor, school psychologist or a church member, so they can help the victim stop and get over the abuse.

If you wish more information, call a special number for child abuse in your country or community. In the U.S. there's the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453.

Reference: Planned Parenthood Relationship issues

Barudy, Jorge El dolor invisible de la infancia. Editorial Paid¨®s.