Myths

It hardly ever happensUp to 1 in 4 girls before the age of 15, 1 in 7-10 boys, and 1 in 5 adult women. Its likely that you will know more than one person who is a survivor of sexual abuse. But also likely, that they won’t have told you. People lie about itResearch finds…

Definitions

Sexual Violence is sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, indecent assault, rape, unlawful sexual connection, sexual violation, and grooming for any of these. Child Sexual AbuseAny exposure of a child (under age 12) to sexual acts or sexual material by a person who is an adult, a teenager, or another child, if that child was…

Showing your support

The importance of family members, friends and partners for a survivor cannot be overstated. People who have good support can heal more quickly. What’s most important is to be clear that the responsibility lies with the offender, and to stay away from myths about sexual abuse and assault. Taking care of your own emotionsTo be…

What if a teenager tells you?

How you respond can make a huge difference in a teenage survivor’s recovery. Learn what’s helpful, and what’s not. It is common for survivors of sexual abuse to not want to talk to their parents or caregivers about it, for fear of their reaction, not wanting to upset the family, or a desire to ‘forget…

The Madwoman’s Malady

Below is an extract from the author’s account of her Select Committee submission at Parliament for a proposed bill of rights for sexual assault survivors: ‘My name is Catriona. I was violently raped a long time ago by a person known to me who broke into my house in the middle of the night.’ I…

Poem – For all those times

For all those timesYou stripped away my layersMade me taste forbidden fruitForced my hands to do your workPenetrated beyond boundariesHands snaked around my neck ready to silence the sound For all those timesI never said no. For all those timesI endured unwanted shadows creeping insideFelt cold metal of a barrelled gun pushed against my headSuffered…

Maddison’s Poem

To whom it may concern To whom it may concern,I haven’t seen you in what feels like foreverI don’t think it would surprise you to know I grew up cleverI mean, that was your prophecyThat you told meMy pygmy hands wrapped around that warm mug of teaLooking out to seaWith no coastline in sightYou helped…