Rape or sexual assault occurs if a person is forced to participate in a sexual act without his or her consent. The force involved may take the form of threats, coercion or physical overpowering, sometimes with added violence. Rape, sadly, is an everyday occurrence, and hopefully the information below will never be relevant to you personally, but it is still so important to be aware of the facts, the myths, and the support available to victims of this heinous crime. Drcc’s Clinical Manager’s Introduction Sexual violence is a frightening topic and people shy away from reading about it.  Unfortunately, it is often a traumatic personal experience or the experience of a family member or friend that leads people to seek information, support and help for the first time, in relation to these issues.  In 2012, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre received over 9000 genuine counselling calls to its National 24-hour Helpline.  54% of these calls related to sexual violence in adulthood, i.e. rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment. It is clear from these statistics and from calls received in 2013, that there is an increasing and disturbing amount of sexual violence taking place in Ireland currently. We hope that this article helps to create more awareness and understanding of what a victim of sexual violence goes through, what their fears are, and what support they need from family and friends.   The attitudes of our society and the myths around sexual violence can negatively impact on victims and often prevent them from seeking help, so we have explored them here in detail. __________________________ It's not usually about sex A common belief about rape and sexual assault is that they are the result of an overwhelming sexual urge where the perpetrator loses normal self-control. The reality is that rape and sexual assault are in themselves vicious, violent acts whether or not they are accompanied by other forms of violence, and research shows that the primary motivating factors are anger and the wish to dominate and degrade, not sexual desire. It can happen to anyone Anybody, regardless of age, gender or circumstances, may be the target of a sexual attack. It happens more than you know In 2001 a major nationwide survey, which interviewed 3120 adults in depth, was undertaken on behalf of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. (The SAVI Report, McGee et al, 2002, The Liffey Press). This survey discovered that 7.4% of Irish women and 1.5% of Irish men have experienced rape or attempted rape in adulthood. One in five women and one in ten men have experienced sexual assault in adulthood. The perpetrator is responsible, not the victim The belief that rape and sexual assault are sexual acts contributes to the idea that the victim may in some way be responsible for the assault. Women and men who have been raped or sexually assaulted may agonise over what it was in their dress or behaviour that led to the attack, a question that would be considered ludicrous in any other violent crime. It is the perpetrator who is responsible for rape and sexual assault, not the victim.  People censor their activities in an attempt to avoid being targeted, but this does not prevent people of all ages, in diverse situations, being sexually assaulted or raped. It doesn’t matter what you were wearing, who you took a lift from, or how much you drank. Rape is a crime. The rapist is usually known to the victim There is a belief that people are usually assaulted by strangers in dark, lonely places. The SAVI research found that 77% of those who experienced rape or sexual assault knew the person who assaulted them. The truth is that most rape and sexual assault takes place within a social or family situation. This often adds to the victim’s confusion and self-blame, where the rape may have followed on from a seemingly normal social situation. It also means that the victim has to continue their life in a context where they may have ongoing contact with the perpetrator. Fear of false allegations Some people believe that people make false accusations of rape or sexual assault out of malice or fear of disapproval of consensual sex. This is a widely held belief which is not borne out in international research.  Recent research across 11 European countries shows that in 1,100 cases studied where rape was reported to the police, police and prosecutors found that a sexual crime had taken place in over 91% of the cases.  (Different systems, Similar outcomes.  Tracking attrition in reported rape cases across Europe, Lovett & Kelly 2009, Child & Women Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University). So many cases go unreported, and unpunished In reality rape and sexual assault are hugely under-reported crimes. The SAVI research found that in Ireland only 1 % of men and 8% of women report rape or sexual assault to the Gardai. Men are raped and sexually assaulted too When people think about rape and sexual assault they usually picture the victim as a woman. In fact men are also subjected to sexual assault and/or rape. The SAVI research found that one in eight Irish men have experienced sexual assault or rape, but nearly half of these had never told anyone about it.  Men can fear disbelief and even ridicule if they come forward. It is important that men realise that they are not alone in being victimised in this way, and that they can access services and supports. Rape and sexual assault happen within marriage and relationships When sexual violence happens within a marriage or relationship, it is frequently accompanied by other forms of violence, and can occur on many occasions, so that the impact is reinforced again and again. A British Home Office survey in 2001 found that one in 20 British women questioned had experienced rape in adulthood, and that, for over half of these women, the rapist was a current or former partner. Rape and sexual assault occur in same sex relationships also.  It can be additionally difficult for those raped or sexually assaulted by a partner to disclose and many victims are caught in an ongoing situation of sexual violence. There is always help available The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre National 24-Hour Helpline is available countrywide and is open for immediate help and support on 1800 77 88 88.  Appointments can be arranged through the Helpline week days between 8am and 7pm. In using the National Helpline our telephone counsellors can assist callers in locating support in their own local areas. The victim can then contact his or her local Rape Crisis Centre where a counsellor will be available to help him or her in the immediate aftermath or in the longer term. Healing is possible No matter how great the victim’s difficulty in coping with the assault, it does not mean that she/ he has developed serious or permanent psychiatric or emotional problems. The victim of sexual violence can recover and reclaim his or her life. Help is always at hand. If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually abused - reach out for help. Contact the National 24-Hour Helpline on 1800 77 88 88.  The DRCC is currently running a National Outdoor and Digital Awareness Raising Campaign with the support of funding from Cosc (The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence) displaying the National 24-Hour Helpline Number 1800 77 88 88, as well as the helpline numbers for the 15 other Rape Crisis Centres around the country.