Teenage Rape and Violence Prevention

The law on rape is pretty simple: rape is when a male forces his penis inside any part of another person without that person wanting him to do so (without consent). ThisisAbuse.Direct.gov.uk says that the most important bit to remember is that being pressured or forced to have sex when you don’t want to is a crime.

That definition seems simple but as “rape” is often associated with violent assaults by strangers, it doesn’t reflect the statistics. The data shows that in most cases the attacker is someone the victim knows and may even be someone they trust a friend or colleague from college or work.

The video below dramatically captures the nature of many of these crimes.

Often leaving home to live in a new city to go to university has hidden risks. It’s an exciting time: new surroundings, new people and usually a fairly fun lifestyle mixed with alcohol. It’s a fertile setup. While drugs and alcohol are never the cause of rape or sexual assault, sometimes these are involved. Remember it’s the attacker who is committing the crime not the drugs and/or alcohol.

According to ThisisAbuse.Direct.gov.uk, if you are worried about abuse, it’s important to first spot the signs:

1. Abuse in a relationship can happen to anyone.

2. It’s never ok.

3. It can destroy your self-confidence, have a negative impact on your health and well-being and can leave you feeling isolated and lonely.

I’d urge anyone who has questions to visit the government’s website on this issue, to see details about the consequences of rape, the myths and advice if you are the victim of rape or know someone who has been. The website also has a section where you ask yourself “Am I abusive?”

Find out more, ask questions and read comments at ThisisAbuse.Direct.gov.uk

Category: Health, Student News