Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault’s Working/Professional Definition of Sexual Assault is as follows: “Sexual assault is any sexual activity that is against another person's will including: rape (attempted rape), sodomy/aggravated sodomy, child molestation, fondling, sexual harassment, indecent exposure, stalking, peeping toms, sexual battery.”

What is rape?

GNESA’s definition is “Rape is an act of violence in which sex is used as a weapon. Rape occurs when a person engages in sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion or with someone who is incapable of consent.”

Facts about rape

• Rape is an act of violence, power, and control.

• Rape is motivated primarily out of anger and/or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating, or humiliating the victim.

• Survivors are not responsible for causing their assaults; only offenders are to be blamed for sexual assault and rape.

• Anyone can be sexually assaulted. Studies show that victims include infants to people in their eighties, people of color, immigrant and refugees, lesbians/gays, people with disabilities, and persons from every racial, ethnic, religious, economic and social background.

• No one asks to be sexually assaulted. Nor does anyone's behavior justify or excuse the crime. People have a right to be safe from a sexual violation at anytime, any place, and under any circumstances. The offender, not the victim, must be held responsible for this crime.

• If anyone forces or coerces you to have sex against your will it is rape. Even if the perpetrator is your husband or partner.

• Familiar people and "safe" places and times are often more dangerous. A person is less likely to identify a friend, acquaintance or date as a potential rapist. As many as 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. Over 50% of all sexual assaults occur in the home and as many sexual assaults occur during the daytime as happen at night.

• It is currently estimated that one out of ten men are victims of adult sexual assault and one out of seven are sexually abused as children.

• Numerous studies of convicted rapists have revealed that men have various motives for raping women, yet none of the studies has shown sexual gratification as a primary motive. The reasons given most often by rapists are power, domination, revenge, and humiliation. Rape is an act of aggression and violence accomplished through sexual means.

• The victim's past sexual history has no bearing on whether or not she was raped. Even if she has had sexual relations with the rapist before, if she was forced to have sex with him against her consent its still rape.

• If a man forces a woman to have sex, rape has occurred, whether or not she fights back.

• Though many cultures believe this to be true, there is no shame in being raped just as there is no shame in being the victim of any other type of violence, like being mugged. It is the perpetrator of this violence that deserves punishment not the victim.

What can I do if I am sexually assaulted?

How can I help a friend who has been sexually assaulted?

Reporting the attack to the police

What is a Rape Exam?

Sexual Assault within the Refugee and Immigrant Communities