What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence refers to any act of a sexual nature that is carried out without consent. This includes rape, sexual abuse and harassment, exploitation, and forced prostitution. 

Sexual violence continues to be one of the most heinous forms of violence committed against women and children in Belize; often resulting in serious short and long-term physical, psychological, sexual, and reproductive health problems for victims. 

While women make up the majority of sexual violence victims, cases of sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of their gender, as men can be victims as well. 

By shedding light on this issue, we hope to increase public knowledge, empower, and support all victims, and encourage everyone to join in the fight to eliminate all forms of violence against men, women, and children in Belize. 

What are the different forms of sexual violence?

Sexual violence is a complex issue that can take on many forms. By familiarizing ourselves with the definitions for the different types of sexual violence, we can better identify, report, and prevent instances of sexual violence in our communities. 

Sexual harassment is a broad term that encompasses any unwelcome sexual conduct that violates the dignity of a person and creates an intimidating, degrading, and humiliating situation.

It can be written, verbal, or physical, and it can happen in person or online. This can include unwanted touching, hugging, or kissing, unwanted requests for sexual favours, or the sharing of sexually explicit or inappropriate comments, jokes, or images.

Anyone can experience sexual harassment, regardless of their gender, and it can happen within any environment including schools, workplaces, or public spaces.

Also referred to as sexual assault, rape is a heinous act that occurs when an individual engages in non-consensual sexual activity either through the use of force or threat of force, or with a person who is unable to provide legal consent due to their minor status, mental illness or deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception.

This form of sexual violence is often committed by someone known to the victim and can happen to anyone as it is not limited to any specific gender, age, or sexual orientation. 

Acquaintance rape is a form of sexual violence that is committed by someone known to the victim. This can be a friend, classmate, relative, co-worker, etc. 

As a sex crime, it involves forced, manipulated, or coerced sexual contact that occurs against a person's will. By resorting to violence, employing threats, or exploiting the victim's fear of bodily harm, the perpetrator callously violates the victim's trust and inflicts lasting emotional and physical trauma.

This alarming reality compels us to recognize the far-reaching implications of sexual violence and to acknowledge that it exists even within the context of relationships that are meant to provide comfort, safety, and support.

Date rape is a form of acquaintance rape and dating violence that refers to the act of sexual assault or rape that is committed by someone the victim has gone on a date with and in which there has been some romantic or potential relationship between the two parties.

In instances of date rape, the victim is often coerced or manipulated into having unwanted sex by means of violence, verbal pressure, the use of incapacitating substances, or threats.

Like other forms of sexual violence, date rape violates the trusting relationship that should have been maintained between the two parties.

Drug-facilitated sexual violence occurs when incapacitating substances are used to impair a person’s ability to give consent to engage in sexual activity. 

Such substances increase a person’s vulnerability to sexual assaults because they lower inhibitions, reduce their ability to resist, and can prevent them from remembering details of the assault.

There are two primary ways in which drug-facilitated sexual assault can occur: 

1) The perpetrator takes advantage of someone who has willingly consumed drugs or alcohol.

2) The perpetrator intentionally forces the victim to consume substances, either with or without their knowledge.

This form of sexual violence can happen to anyone, by anyone, and is often linked to date rape. 

In Belize, the law recognizes the occurrence of marital rape when sexual intercourse takes place between a husband and wife without the consent of the female under the specific circumstances:

1.) The spouses live separately and apart within the meaning of the Married Persons Act

2.) There is a written separation agreement between the spouses or proceedings for the dissolution of the marriage. 

3.) A decree of nullity of marriage has been instituted.

Partner rape, also known as intimate partner sexual violence, refers to sexual acts that are committed without a person's consent or against their will, specifically when the perpetrator is the individual's current (married or not) or former partner.

This form of sexual violence encompasses a range of abusive behaviours, including pressuring, threatening, coercing, or physically forcing someone into participating in any form of sexual activity when they do not want to.

Although sexual violence largely impacts women, it is important for us to be aware that men and boys can also be victims of sexual assaults, including sexual abuse and rape. When this occurs, it is referred to as male sexual violence.

This type of sexual violence is rarely reported due to prevailing cultural and societal attitudes that do not see men as victims.

Sexual violence against children occurs when an adult (or someone bigger or older than a child) uses their authority and power to engage in sexual acts with a child or expose them to sexually explicit content.

This form of child abuse is often committed by someone the child knows and trusts. The perpetrator may use tricks, bribery, threats, and at times, even physical force, to coerce children into partaking in these heinous activities which can have lasting and devastating effects on the child both physically and psychologically. 

As a society, we all share a fundamental responsibility to ensure the protection of children from all forms of abuse and violence. Every child has the right to a safe and secure childhood and a peaceful, nurturing, and supportive environment where they can flourish and fully exercise their rights. 

Through concerted efforts aimed at preventing and addressing sexual violence against children, we can help to nurture the development and potential of every child, while promoting the overall well-being of our society and the prosperity of future generations.

Commercial sexual exploitation is a form of sexual violence that is akin to modern-day slavery. It is committed by those who pay for, facilitate, or coerce children/adolescents into engaging in sexual activities in exchange for money or other valuables. 

These activities can include sexual intercourse or other sexual acts, the production or distribution of pornographic materials, or performing in public or private sex shows.

This form of sexual violence not only constitutes economic exploitation but is also a form of child abuse, which flagrantly violates the human rights of its young victims. The sexual abuse and exploitation of children deprive them of their childhood, significantly impeding their emotional and psychological development.

Incest is sexual abuse between blood-related persons such as parents, children, brothers, sisters, etc. Also known as intrafamilial child sexual abuse, incest usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a child or adolescent. 

This type of sexual violence isn't solely restricted to physical contact as it can also involve non-touching behaviours such as exposing a child to sexually explicit content, violating their physical privacy, or taking sexually explicit photos of them.

In these instances, the perpetrator exploits their trusting relationship with the victim, family member.

Always be aware of changes in a child’s behaviour and never overlook, minimize, dismiss, or disbelieve allegations of sexual abuse, even if the accused is a family member.

In cases where an older relative has had sexual contact with a family member who is under the age of 16, the older relative will be charged with incest. However, if both family members are over the age of 16, they can both face charges for engaging in incestuous acts. 

Source:

(2012). Handbook on Sexual Violence. http://www.humandevelopment.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sexual-Violence-handbook.pdf