#ItsNotOK - Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Week (6-12 February)

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence and to provide an opportunity for any organisation or individual to engage in dialogue. The Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week occurs on the first full week of February. This year it will take place from 6th to 12th February.

 

What is sexual violence?

Sexual violence is any kind of sexual activity or act, including online, that was unwanted or involved one or more of the following:

  • pressure
  • manipulation
  • bullying
  • intimidation
  • threats
  • deception
  • force

In other words, any kind of sexual activity or act that took place without consent.

Find out more from Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/statistics-sexual-violence/

 

What is consent?

Consent means agreeing to something by choice and having both the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

It is NOT consent if:

  • Someone was asleep, unconscious, drunk, drugged or 'on' drugs.
  • Someone was pressured, manipulated, tricked or scared into saying yes.
  • Someone was too young or vulnerable to have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time, including during a sexual act. Just because someone consented to something before doesn’t mean they consented to it happening again. 

Myth vs Fact #1

Myth: Rape and sexual violence are mostly perpetrated by a stranger

Fact: One in two rapes against women are carried out by either a partner or ex-partner and 5 in 6 rapes against women are carried out by someone they know.

Myth vs Fact #2

Myth: You hold responsibility for being subjected to sexual violence if you: wear certain clothes/have been drinking/walk in a certain area/have slept with the person before/didn’t fight back

Fact: You are not responsible for what happened, the responsibility lies entirely with the abuser

Spotlight on organisations offering help to victims

Rape Crisis England and Wales – 24/7 helpline: Call free on 0808 500 2222

Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) Birmingham based – Open to survivors and victims of all genders, including children. Offers a helpline, ongoing therapeutic support, support with access to the criminal justice system and resources for supporters of survivors.

Survivors UK offer support for men and boys who have been subjected to sexual abuse.  Online resources, group work and helpline across the whole the UK

 

Events

Get involved in Birmingham's One Billion Rising Flashmob in Birmingham on 14 February.

Find out more

Training

RSVP offers bitesize online training throughout the year.

Browse forthcoming sessions

 

 Supporting a survivor

  • Listen and believe – It can be an enormous step for someone to disclose rape or sexual violence. It is important to allow them to speak freely as much or as little as they are comfortable with and validate their feelings without questioning.
  • Freedom of choice – Everyone responds differently, there is no right or wrong route. They may wish to report to the police or decide not to, this must be the survivors’ choice and should not be taken out of their hands.
  • Additional support – There are specialist services for survivors and victims to access. In Birmingham, the Rape and Sexual Violence Project has a range of support options. Other specialist support can be found here:
  • Never to blame – Most importantly, the survivor is not to blame for the abuse they have been subjected to. Many survivors and victims may hold common rape myths and victim-blaming attitudes towards themselves that you can help to gently challenge.
  • Additional support – There are specialist services for survivors and victims to access. In Birmingham, the Rape and Sexual Violence Project has a range of support options.
    Other specialist support can be found here:     https://rsvporg.co.uk/useful-links/

 

Violence against Women & Girls (VAWG) Strategy Consultation information

BVSC and Birmingham City Council are currently developing a Violence Against Women and Girls strategy for Birmingham to support survivors and victims and prevent future violence.

To ensure that this strategy is specific and relevant to the people of Birmingham, we will be consulting with professionals who work with this group and the general public on their thoughts and experiences via questionnaires, focus groups and interviews.

Keep an eye out for further details over the next few months on how you can get involved and share your insights on this important topic.

In the meantime, you can contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

In the Media

TV 
  • Emily Atack: Asking For It? - Discussion of online sexual violence and its impact (BBC i-Player) 
  • Procession - Six men discuss their experiences of sexual violence at the hands of catholic priests (Netflix) 
  • Undercover: Sexual Harassment - The Truth - Ellie Flynn goes undercover, exposing the harsh reality of sexual harassment against women and girls in Britain today, from 'dick pics' to being flashed, groped, spiked and raped (Channel 4)
Film
 
Podcast