Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact or attention. It is an assault which can be caused by any force either physical or non physical. The force can take the form of threats, bribes, manipulation, or violence. It can be verbal, visual, audio, vaginal, anal, oral, or any other form which forces an individual to participate in unwanted sexual contact or attention. Sexual assault includes rape and attempted rape in the forms of date and acquaintance rape, marital rape, and stranger rape. It also includes child molestation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, incest, and sexual harassment. Sexual assault can be committed by adults, children, males, females, strangers friends, dates, acquaintances or relatives. Anyone can be sexually assaulted, regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, economic, ethnic or religious heritage.

I celebrate my courage in coming here. I was alone, but now I am not alone. I was victimized, but I am no longer a victim.

 I name the violence in my life--and declare it wrong. I name that I need help, and that I am willing to give help.

 Nothing I do provokes the violence. Nothing about me causes the violence. Nothing gives one person the right to abuse another person. Abusers can change themselves, but I cannot change them.

 Nothing I can do will change my past. Everything I do changes my future.

 I have protected myself and my children. Resistance to violence, defending myself or my children, is not abuse.

 I believe myself; I believe my sisters. I can ask support; I can give support. I can change myself; I can change the world.

 My being here helps others. I am not here to judge my sisters, but to support their healing. I will take the risk to trust other women here. I affirm the privacy and confidentiality of every woman in this group. Every time a sister resists, she creates a space for resistance around her.

 I am here in solidarity with my sisters of all persuasions, all colors, all orientations, and all faiths to say NO ! to violence. We will not be divided by our diversity--we will be strengthened by it.

 In the words of Alice Walker, "I am the woman offering two flowers whose roots are twin. Justice and Hope. Let us begin."
 

The Help Line, a free 24 hour crisis counseling service is here for those millions who need someone to turn to.

Do you need someone to help you get through feelings of helplessness?  If yes..... Call The Help Line
If no....The Help Line needs your help.

Please reach out by giving, loving and caring..........Call  
1-877-870-4673 and give so that the one who is reaching out for help will have the opportunity to enjoy the peace that life offers so freely.

YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

CALL 1-877-870-4673 AND GIVE.  IT WILL ADD TO YOUR HAPPINESS  AND GIVE  HAPPINESS AND HELP SOMEONE IN NEED.

1. Try to go to a safe place. 

2. Call The Help Line, 1-561-659-6900, or someone you trust like a friend or a member of your family. You may call another rape crisis counselor or have someone call one for you. 

3. It is important to get medical attention as soon as possible. This is not only important in case of injury, but also to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. In your state, county or city, a standardized "rape kit" examination may be available in case of possible future criminal prosecution. The rape kit is sealed and submitted to the Police crime lab. Results are only used in case of prosecution. No matter what your decision about prosecuting the offender, a rape kit is highly recommended. 

4. Do not wash, comb, or clean any part of your body. Do not change clothes if possible. Do not touch or change anything at the scene of the assault. This insures evidence preservation in case of future criminal prosecution. 

5. In most states a sexual assault survivor has three options when filing a police report: a report can be filed with the intent of prosecuting the offender, a report can be filed but without the intent of prosecuting, or a third party report can be filed where the survivor remains anonymous (the survivor's name is withheld from the report) and no prosecution takes place. It is the survivor's right to change their mind at any time during the judicial process. 

6. Because sexual assault is a crime of violence, emotions such as shock, anger, shame, guilt, and fear or a combination of those feelings are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted and professional counselor and/or to join a support group. No one should have to face the trauma of sexual assault alone.

Much can be said and many links and/or referrals could be given here, however if you are a victim of abuse, an assault victim, if you have been raped, or think you have been raped, ( even if your not sure what has taken place in an encounter ), the important thing is to call The Help Line. You will make a secure link with another woman that cares and understands and has the tools in which to help you.

· In the U.S., 1.3 women are raped every minute. That's 78 rapes per hour.

· 1 out of every 3 American women will be assaulted in her lifetime. 

· 1 in 4 college women have either been raped or suffered attempted rape.

· 78% of rape victims know the attacker.

· Rape has a devastating impact on the mental health of victims.

· 31% of all victims develop Rape-Related Post Traumatic Disorder (RR-PTSD) sometimes in their lifetimes. Based on U.S. Census reports on the number on women in the United States, 1.3 million women currently have RR-PTSD, 3.8 million women have had RR-PTSD and roughly 211,000 women will develop RR-PTSD each year.

· Only 16% of rapes are ever reported to the police. In a survey of victims who did not report rape or attempted rape to the police, the following was found as to why no report was made. 43% thought nothing could be done. 27% felt it was a private matter, 12% were afraid of police response, and 12% felt it was not important enough.

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