Monday 6th February marks the start of Sexual Abuse Awareness Week across the UK. This week provides an opportunity to highlight some of the types of sexual abuse and harassment that victims may experience and where they can go for help, advice and support.
Many people report experiencing sexual harassment at school, at work, on public transport and when carrying out their daily business. In fact, a recent report commissioned by Crimestoppers revealed that one in six children faces unwanted sexual harassment in public from the age of 10.
These shocking findings demonstrate that the majority of those who experience sexual harassment encounter it for the first time during adolescence or childhood.
You can read more about the Crimestoppers report here.
The majority of young people stay connected through social media, and whilst social media has lots of benefits, it also creates multiple opportunities for sexual harassment and abuse that can be perpetrated remotely and often anonymously.
Revenge Porn
One area of sexual harassment and abuse that you may not be fully aware of is so-called “revenge porn” or intimate image abuse. Intimate image abuse is the act of sharing intimate images or videos of someone, either on or offline, without their consent with the intention of causing distress. Revenge porn has been illegal in England and Wales since 2015 and carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 amended legislation in June 2021 to extend this offence to include the threat to share intimate images.
Intimate image abuse has a devastating impact on the victim, causing distress and humiliation. Victims report how it leaves them feeling anxious and betrayed. It can have implications for their careers if an intimate image is shared with an employer or posted across social media. Victims are often coerced or forced into having intimate images taken and the threat of sharing these is frequently used as a tool to coerce and control them.
A study carried out by the Crown Prosecution Service in November 2022, found that in a random sample of revenge porn cases, 92% involved complaints from ex-partners. This highlights how revenge porn is also used as a tool to abuse victims of domestic abuse. Worryingly, the Crown Prosecution Service also found that many victims of intimate image abuse also experienced stalking and harassment.
If you are concerned that you might be a victim of intimate image abuse. Or your partner/ex-partner has threatened to share intimate images of you with others or online. Don’t suffer in silence. There is help and support available.
You can contact us at the Derbyshire Domestic Abuse helpline on 08000198668 https://www.derbyshiredomesticabusehelpline.co.uk/
You can also seek advice, information and support via the revenge porn helpline: https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/how-can-we-help/how-to-get-in-touch/
