Sexual violence is a becoming a pandemic, more than 1 in 5 women, 1 in 7 men and 1 in 20 children will experience rape or sexual assault at some point in their lives.
86% of female survivors will be raped by someone they know, 45% of women will be attacked by a partner or ex-partner. 60% of male survivors are raped by someone they know and 25% are attacked by a partner or ex-partner.
JAAR’s mission is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, support survivors healing and end this violence.
You can support survivors healing today by signing up to one of our events including the Stride For Survivor Challenge or joining our Sunflower Competition and be in for a chance to win a £250 garden centre voucher.
Subscribe to our JAAR newsletter below, we will be sharing details of our work, news stories, relevant campaigns, and info on how you can support survivors.
It takes tremendous courage for a survivor of sexual assault to share their stories with anyone and it is important to never underestimate the power you have to affect a survivor’s healing.
Survivors of sexual violence start to heal the moment they feel heard.
Supporting a survivor of sexual violence or abuse can be daunting. You might be afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. But you don’t have to be an expert.
The most important thing you can do is to listen, and let the person who’s confiding in you tell you what they need.
What are the common mental effects of sexual assault and rape?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts
- Depression, including prolonged sadness, feelings of hopelessness, unexplained crying, weight loss or gain, loss of energy or interest in activities previously enjoyed.
What are common emotional effects of sexual assault and rape?
- Changes in trusting others
- Anger and blame
- Shock
- Numbness
- Disorientation
- Helplessness
- Sense of vulnerability
- Fear“allowing” the crime to happen
- Feeling that these reactions are a sign of weakness
Not all sexual violence or abuse will leave visible marks or cause a physical injury. This does not make the experience any less valid or serious. ALL forms of sexual violence or abuse are serious, horrific crimes that can have lasting impact on the survivor. This is why every survivor deserves access to specialist support when they need it.
Sexual assault and rape are NEVER the victim’s fault. Sexual violence are crimes motivated by a need to control, humiliate, and harm, if a victim does not fight the acts, it does not mean consent.
Click the button for more information on how you can support someone in your life who has been impacted by sexual assault.