Indigenous women face the highest rates of sexual assault in the United States — in fact, 56.1% of Native American women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes, and Native Americans are twice as likely to experience sexual assault compared to other races. Lack of resources and equitable funding, decades of discriminatory
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Perpetrators of sexual assault can use many tools to commit these acts of violence, including weapons, drugs, and alcohol. One method perpetrators use to make people vulnerable to assault is through the use of date rape drugs, such as rohypnol. These drugs are very dangerous, leading to lapses in consciousness and a
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Sexual violence in an existing relationship can be easy to hide or deny. Many survivors of this type of abuse may not realize that it is occurring because their abuser may apologize, blame the survivor for their actions, or make the survivor believe that this is normal behavior. Some subtle signs of
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Sexual assault survivors need significant support to heal from their trauma and seek justice against the perpetrators of sexual violence. Sexual assault victim advocacy groups and services are organizations composed of volunteers dedicated to supporting survivors and connecting them to the resources they need. If you are interested in joining an advocacy
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According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 1 in 6 American women and 1 in 33 American men will experience sexual violence during their lifetimes. Out of these cases, only 1 in 4 will result in a police report. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, fewer survivors may file a
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If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you may have heard the term SART while searching for support resources near you. SART stands for Sexual Assault Response Team, and this term often also accompanies SANE, which stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. These professionals help provide care to sexual assault survivors
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Sexual assault can impact a survivor physically and emotionally. In fact, sexual violence survivors often experience significant psychological impacts, both in the short term and in the long term. These effects can lead to the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms, substance abuse, and mental illnesses such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety,
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In sexual assault cases, maintaining the confidentiality of survivors is incredibly important. Survivors need the time, space, and resources to recover from the assault, and if someone violates their trust, it can become even more difficult to begin the healing process. To protect survivors, there are certain privacy rights that prosecutors, advocates,
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Sexual assault is prevalent and frequent on college campuses across the United States. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men experience sexual assault while in college. If you are a parent whose child will soon leave for college, it is
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Sexual assault cases, like all criminal cases, rely on evidence that proves that the perpetrator committed the act of violence. However, proving sexual assault cases can be difficult, since certain pieces of evidence common in other cases may not be present. As a result, prosecutors and law enforcement officers alike look for
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