Sexual Violence is any unwanted sexual act or activity. There are many kinds of sexual violence that exist including, but not limited to rape, sexual assault, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and sexual harassment. Perpetrators range from total strangers to relatives and intimate partners. It can happen to anyone, anywhere – in the family/household, workplace, public spaces, social settings – and at any point in life. Sexual harassment is often first experienced by women when they are girls and young women are at increased risk of sexual violence. Sexual violence can occur online in the form of grooming, sharing intimate images of someone without their consent and using technology such as apps, websites and other online platforms to coerce or distress a victim or survivor.
Gender-Based Violence
HERSANA provides specialist services for Black femme survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
'Gender-based violence is a function of gender inequality, and an abuse of male power and privilege. It takes the form of actions that result in physical, sexual and psychological harm or suffering to women and children, or affront to their human dignity, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.’ – Equally Safe
'Violence against Women' is a term often used interchangeably with gender-based violence. This is because it is widely acknowledged that the majority of persons affected by gender-based violence are women and girls. However, using the ‘gender-based’ aspect is important as it highlights the fact that many forms of violence against women are rooted in unequal distribution of power in society between women and men. The terms are used interchangeably throughout HERSANA’s work, reflecting the disproportionate number of these particular crimes against women.
HERSANA have adopted the United Nations declaration on elimination of Violence Against Women.
The United Nations defines violence against women as:
“Any act of gender-based violence that results or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, that is directed at a woman because she is a woman or acts of violence which are suffered disproportionately by women.”
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a pervasive and devastating issue that affects millions of women and girls worldwide. Remembering that VAWG affects women of all ages it is an act of gender-based violence and includes, but is not limited to, the following strands
- Domestic violence and abuse
- Coercive and controlling behaviour
- Sexual violence and abuse
- Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)
- Forced marriage & Child marriage
- Crimes in the name of ‘honour’
- Stalking & Harassment
- Forced sex working and trafficking
- Sexual exploitation
- Girls and gang violence
- Revenge porn
Self referrals
If you would like to refer yourself for therapy at HERSANA you can do this through our online self-referral form or you can phone us.
VAWG describes the various forms of violence that are primarily perpetrated against women and girls. VAWG encompasses a wide range of harmful acts including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. While VAWG primarily targets women and girls, it is not exclusive to them.
Men and boys can also be victims of some of the forms of violence included in VAWG. However, the term specifically highlights the disproportionate impact and prevalence of violence against women and girls, as well as underlying gender-based power imbalances and discrimination that contribute to this violence.
HERSANA recognises that VAWG is rooted in gender inequality and the unequal distribution of power between men and women, as well as adherence to rigid gender roles and norms that condone or tolerate violence. It violates women and girl’s fundamental human rights and has far reaching consequences for individuals, families, and society. Ending VAWG can only happen if perpetrators stop their abuse.
Violence and abuse can affect everyone differently but there are varying experiences and factors which can affect how some people access services. HERSANA recognises that to prevent and tackle VAWG we must also work together as a partnership and with the community to challenge myths and attitudes that work to minimise the abuse that takes place and create services that ultimately hold perpetrators to account for their actions.
We recognise that people with certain protected characteristics are disproportionately impacted by VAWG in the UK including disability, age, gender, ethnicity, pregnancy/maternity and sexual orientation.
Evidence highlights that individuals with these protected characteristics often have different needs and face unique challenges when accessing support.
Definitions
Female genital mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured, or changed, but where there is no medical reason for this to be done. This is a traditional practice in some communities and is sometimes portrayed as a religious requirement although there is no basis for this. It is also known as female circumcision, and by other terms such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.
A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both spouses do not (or, in the case of some adults with learning or physical disabilities, or those under the age of 18, cannot) consent to the marriage and duress is involved. Duress can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual, and emotional pressure. This is a form of domestic abuse but can involve people other than family or intimate partners and can be an element of so-called ‘honour’-based abuse affecting victims and survivors of all gender identities.
Crimes In The Name Of ‘Honour’
So-called ‘honour’-based violence is a collection of practices used to control behaviour within families to protect perceived cultural, spiritual, and religious beliefs and/or ‘honour’. It is often linked to family members or acquaintances who mistakenly believe someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of their culture. This is a form of domestic abuse but in most so-called ‘honour’- based violence cases there are multiple perpetrators from the immediate family, sometimes the extended family and occasionally the community at large. It is important to note
that since the concepts of ‘honour’, ‘purity’ and what is ‘natural’ exist across cultural borders, so-called ‘honour’-based violence has been witnessed and reported in every community.
Stalking is unwanted, repeated, obsessive and/or controlling behaviours that make someone distressed or scared. There are many ways stalking can be perpetrated and it is most likely to be someone the victim or survivor already knows well such as an ex-partner. The law states that harassment is when a person behaves in a way which is intended to cause distress or alarm. The behaviour must happen on more the one occasion. It can be the same type of behaviour or different types of behaviour on each occasion.
Sexual exploitation is when one person or a group of people abuse or attempt to abuse a position of vulnerability, power, or trust, for sexual purposes. This includes but is not limited to profiting financially, socially, or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. It is child sexual exploitation when the victim.
The sharing of private, sexual materials, either photos or videos, of another person without their consent and with the purpose of causing embarrassment or distress.
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