#Letter: Should you see something, say something

Rise Up Movement founder in Umhlali, Josha Daniel writes:

The term sexual assault denotes sexual contact or conduct that arises without explicit permission from the victim.

Different types of sexual assault consists of attempted rape, touching or undesirable sexual touch, forcing a victim to carry out sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the victim’s body.

Sexual violence includes sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, degrading sexual images, cyber harassment, trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The degree of sexual violence in South Africa is among the highest in the world.

Sexual violence is the use of power or exploitation to get somebody to participate in undesirable sexual activities without consent.

‘Acquaintance rape’, known as ‘date rape’, is the most familiar form of violation/sexual assault.

According to Rainn.org “ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault. Those aged 65 and older are 92% less likely than 12 to 24-year-olds to be a victim of rape or sexual assault, and 83% less likely than 25 to 49-year-olds.”

Perpetrators do not show common physical characteristics of violent behaviour.

Here are a few red flags: exploitation, derogatory sexual terms, sexually harassing others, demonstrating an aggressive behaviour and seeing and treating others as sexual objects.

Awareness is empowerment. Should you see something, say something. Activism leads to change.

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