Download Sexual Violence - National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Governor’s Advisory Council Against Sexual Violence
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Sexual Violence Vision Statement
In New Jersey all individuals will be free of the threat, fear or acts of sexual violence in all its forms.
Definition – Continuum of Sexual Violence
Sexual Violence is any criminal and non-criminal violation of a person, where this violation is of a
sexual nature. Sexual violence can occur between any persons including acquaintances, strangers,
family members or in dating relationships and is often part of domestic violence situations. Sexual
violence occurs between individuals but is perpetuated at the system level by a set of community
norms, behaviors and attitudes that allow for the sexual degradation, exploitation and objectification
of individuals. The term “sexual violence” refers to the following verbal, pictorial, written or physical
acts that form a continuum of sexual violence (in alphabetical order):
 Child Pornography—visual images or sometimes written passages depicting minors under the age
of legal consent in explicit sexual activity.
 Child Sexual Abuse—any sexual activity with a child by a person in a dominant position.
 Drug facilitated sexual assault - the administration of any drug (including but not limited to alcohol)
taken voluntary or involuntary to render a victim physically incapacitated or helpless and thus
incapable of giving or withholding consent. Victims may be unconscious (incapacitated) during all
or parts of the sexual assault and, upon regaining consciousness, may experience anterograde
amnesia--the inability to recall events that occurred while under the influence of the drug.
 Exposure/lewdness—revealing of a person’s body, especially genitals, in a public setting.
 Female genital mutilation - often referred to as 'female circumcision', comprises all procedures
involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female
genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons
 Incest—sexual activity, either consensual or nonconsensual, between members of the same family.
 Internet Predation (specifically in reference to children)—to use the internet to solicit children for
sexual acts, sending sexually explicit emails or text messages to children, arranging to meet
children who are under the legal age of consent for the purpose of sexual intercourse or sexual
activities.
 Molestation—the act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity
(used mostly in reference to children).
 Pornography - is exposure to the representation of the human body or sexual activity that is
sexually exploitative, degrading and objectifies individuals. This includes, but is not limited to, the
increased “pornification” of mainstream media messages.
 Professional Abuse: misuse of power or coercion by a professional (clinician, physician, etc.)
 Prostitution—when an individual, be it a child or an adult, is forced/coerced to engage in sex work
that is degrading, exploitative and objectifying and/or obliged to give their earnings to another
individual/organization or party.
 Sex Trafficking— the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for
the purpose of a commercial sex act. Also referred to as human trafficking and commercial
sexual exploitation.
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o the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of
the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception,
of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of
payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another
person, for the purpose of exploitation. 1
o the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or
services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjecting that
person to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 2
Sexual Assault—the forced, manipulated or coerced oral, vaginal or anal penetration of a person
without consent.
o Rape—is defined as the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. All
assaults and attempts to rape are counted, but carnal abuse, rape without force
(statutory rape) and other sex offenses are not included. 3
o Martial/Intimate Partner Rape—when one spouse/intimate partner forces, coerces,
and/or manipulates the other spouse/intimate partner into participating in sexual activity
against their will.
o Statutory Rape—sexual intercourse, between an adult and a child under the legal age
of consent and between an older child and younger child under the legal age of
consent.
Sexual Contact—the forced, manipulated or coerced sexual touching of a person without consent.
o Frottage—rubbing against another person while fully clothed for sexual pleasure
(without consent). Also known as “grinding”.
o Sexual contact—an intentional touching by the victim or actor, either directly or through
clothing, of the victim’s or actor’s intimate parts for the purpose of degrading or
humiliating the victim or sexually arousing or sexually gratifying the actor. Sexual
contact of the actor with himself must be in view of the victim whom the actor knows to
be present.4
Sexual Harassment—any unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual or gender-specific nature
(may include fondling, lewd comments, demanding sexual favors or you’ll be fired from your job,
etc.). May also be known as “sexual bullying” and “professional boundary violation”
Stalking—when an individual willfully and repeatedly engages in an intentional, constant
harassment directed at another person, which reasonably and seriously alarms, torments, or
terrorizes that person.
Voyeurism (Peeping)—deriving sexual satisfaction while secretly watching others undress or
engage in sexual activity.
Sexual violence can occur in the home, workplace, school, prison and community. It includes the use
of mainstream media messages that portray people as sexual objects. All the above acts also qualify
as sexual violence if they are committed against someone who is unable to consent or refuse.
Definition of “trafficking in persons” United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, Supplemental
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
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Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000
3
Definition used by the Uniform Crime Report, State of New Jersey, Division of State Police. This definition utilizes a very
restrictive means of reporting.
4
N.J.S.A.2C:14-1