Sexual Violence
Sexual assault is never your fault.
In Vermont, sexual assault is defined as forced sexual act with another person. "Forced" can mean without their consent, by threatening them, threatening to harm another, or by coercion. If someone is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or otherwise mentally or physically incapable of consent, it's sexual assault. Acquaintances, dates, husbands, and family members commit over 80% of the sexual assaults, and the majority of sexual assaults happen at or near the survivor’s home.
Assault does not have to be physically violent. It can happen to anyone no matter their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, or socioeconomic status. If anyone forces you, in any way, to have sexual contact, it’s assault.
Sexual violence can include but is not limited to:
Unwanted comments/catcalls
Indecent exposure
Unwanted sexual pictures
Revenge porn
Unwanted touching/fondling
Unwanted kissing
Sexual contact due to threats/coercion/fear
Any sexual act with someone who is unable to consent
Attempted rape
Rape
Reporting in Vermont
Not everyone chooses to report sexual assault, in fact, the majority of sexual assaults go unreported. Choosing whether to report or not is a personal choice, and is not an indicator of validity. If you are curious about reporting, click the button below to learn more.
SANE Exam
Some people choose to get a SANE exam (some refer to it as a ‘rape kit’) after a sexual assault. It is always up to the person who was assaulted to choose if this is what they want to do. Click the button below for more info about what to expect during a SANE exam.
Consent
The definition of consent and what is consensual can be unclear to some. Clear consent is necessary to engage in any sexual act. If you are interested in learning more about consent, and want to gain a clearer definition of what it looks like, click the button below.