STATISTICS
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behaviors that occur without explicit consent. It includes attempted rape, unwanted touching of a sexual nature, the performance of sexual acts through force, and completed rape. The force used in sexual assault includes physical pressure, emotional coercion, psychological pressure, and manipulation.
In the United States, sexual assault is considered a serious public health problem that deeply affects a survivor’s lifelong health, opportunities, and general well-being. Sexual assault impacts people of all genders, sexual orientations, and ages from all backgrounds. Approximately eight out of every ten sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows as an intimate partner, friend, or acquaintance.
How does sexual assault make someone susceptible to sex trafficking?
Sexual assault can make someone vulnerable to sex trafficking in several ways. First, survivors of sexual assault may experience feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-worth, which can make them ideal targets for traffickers who prey on vulnerable individuals. Traffickers may use coercion, manipulation, and force to exploit survivors of sexual assault for commercial sex acts. Additionally, survivors of sexual assault may suffer from trauma, which can lead to substance abuse, mental health disorders, and homelessness, all of which can make them more susceptible to trafficking. Furthermore, traffickers may use the survivor's fear of being prosecuted or stigmatized for their sexual assault to control and exploit them. The experience of a sexual assault can be a powerful tool for traffickers to force or manipulate survivors into trafficking and make it difficult for them to escape exploitation.
How can I help?
Unfortunately, a large majority of sexual assaults and sex trafficking incidents go unreported in the United States. There are many reasons why a victim may choose not to report the abuse to law enforcement or tell anyone else, including distrust of law enforcement, a desire to protect the perpetrator, shame about the attack, denial that the abuse occurred, or concern about not being believed or being treated differently.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, employer, coworker, or friend, you can make a difference in a survivor’s life by noticing the signs that they may have experienced sexual violence. These signs may include:
If you notice any of these signs in someone you know, reach out to them and remind them that you are willing and available to talk about whatever may be troubling them.
What do I do if someone tells me they have experienced sexual violence?
If a survivor chooses to share with you that a sexual assault or trafficking situation has occurred or is occurring, you may be unsure how to respond or support them. Often, simply listening to them is the best way to support a survivor. Allow them to lead the conversation, being careful not to push for information about the abuse or assault. It is important to remember that the large majority of survivors know the person that assaulted them or is trafficking them, and they may struggle to trust the people around them afterward. Don’t expect a survivor to immediately trust you fully, but do everything you can to be trustworthy.
RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline staff recommends using the following phrases when speaking with a survivor of sexual assault:
If someone tells you that sexual abuse or trafficking has happened recently, encourage them to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Proper medical care can address any injuries the survivor may have suffered and also protect them from any sexually transmitted diseases. Recognize that it is a survivor’s choice whether to report the abuse to law enforcement, but encourage them to consider it. Many survivors have found freedom and healing from the trauma of a sexual assault by reporting it, despite the difficulty of the prosecution process.
How can I care for myself while supporting a survivor of sexual assault or trafficking?
There is no “right” reaction to hearing that someone you care about has experienced sexual violence. Be gracious with yourself as you seek to support the survivor.
You may experience some of the following emotions:
Feeling these emotions is normal, but it can be difficult to prevent them from affecting the way you communicate with a survivor. Let yourself acknowledge that you are feeling that emotion and look for another outlet to express it in a healthy way.
As you support a survivor of sexual assault or trafficking, don’t be embarrassed or reluctant to ask for help and support for yourself. Survivors healing from sexual trauma usually need a lot of time and the help of many kinds of people, so be generous with yourself and understand that boundaries are still healthy for your relationship with the survivor. You are a strong supporter, but you are not equipped to fully manage someone else’s health and recovery. Become familiar with the resources you can recommend to a survivor and encourage them to utilize them.
Below is a list of professional resources for a survivor of sexual assault:
There is hope and healing for survivors of sexual violence, and every one of us can be a part of that process by staying on the lookout for the signs and symptoms in our friends, family, and acquaintances.
For more information about sexual violence, visit:
For more information about how to help someone who has experienced sexual assault, visit: