Rape and sexual coercion

What is it?

Rape humiliates in an extreme way. Psychological consequences are severe.

Rape is an extreme form of sexualised violence, where sexuality is used as a means of showing force, humiliating and subjugating women and girls. Rape is any penetration into the body of a woman against her will irrespective of whether the penetration is vaginal, anal or oral, or if the penis, a finger or an object is used.

To any woman and girl, rape/sexual coercion involves a serious aggression against her personal and physical integrity. The will of another person is forced upon her by violence – and this in the very sensitive field of her sexual self-determination.