Sexual Violence is more prevalent than many people think. Data from PreventConnect, a national project focused on preventing sexual assault and relationship violence, shows that in the United States:
- About 1 in 2 women will experience some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
- About 1 in 6 men will experience some kind of contact sexual violence during their lifetime.
- About 1 in 3 women and men will experience verbal sexual harassment in the workplace or in public.
According to the National Sexual Assault Hotline, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted nearly every minute. From 2023 to 2025, 15 advocacy organizations partnering with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) answered over 10,500 crisis calls and served more than 7,600 clients.
Understanding the scope of sexual violence, how to educate young people about this topic, and where people can access support after experiencing sexual violence are important steps toward prevention.
Understanding Sexual Violence
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center defines sexual violence as any sexual act committed or attempted by one person against another without freely given consent. This includes situations where a person is unable to consent because of their age, developmental ability, or due to intoxication or impairment.
Sexual violence affects people in every community, regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds and income levels. While sexual violence can be an uncomfortable topic, by increasing awareness and focusing on prevention, communities can reduce harm.
Common Forms of Sexual Violence
While sexual violence can be committed by someone who isn’t known to the survivor, it is more often committed by someone the survivor knows, such as a family member, friend, or intimate partner. A wide range of acts that cause harm fall under the umbrella of “sexual violence”:
- Sexual harassment: Unwelcome or unwanted sexual attention including verbal, physical, or virtual, that creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment.
- Sexual abuse: Using threats, fear or manipulation to involve someone in sexual activity, especially when the person cannot understand or freely consent.
- Sexual assault: Any nonconsensual sexual contact or behavior, including situations where the victim lacks capacity to consent because of physical, mental incapacity or intoxication.
- Rape: A legal term used to describe penetration of someone’s body without their consent.
- Nonconsensual image/video sharing: Sharing or threatening to share intimate images or videos without consent. These images or videos can be real or AI-generated.
- Sexual exploitation and trafficking: Coercing an individual to exchange sex for basic needs, money or status.
Preventing Sexual Violence Starts at Home
Prevention is fundamental to reducing sexual violence. Parents and caregivers play a powerful role in teaching young people about healthy interactions. Caregivers can focus on these four building blocks:
- Boundaries: Help your young person understand how to set and respect personal limits, their own and others.
- Consent: Teach young people to communicate clearly instead of making assumptions. They should be free to say “yes,” “no,” or “let’s talk about it,” and they must respect others’ decisions. Remember, where coercion is present, consent is not.
- Healthy relationships: Teach children and teens that relationships should feel safe, supportive and respectful. People in a healthy relationship should not feel pressured, threatened or controlled. They should be able to communicate openly and resolve conflict in a fair and rational way.
- Lead by example: Young people learn by watching the adults who are close to them. Model healthy and respectful behavior in your own relationships and friendships.
Resources in Colorado for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Survivors often experience impacts to their wellbeing and can benefit from specialized, trauma-informed services. Whether you or someone you care about needs help with safety planning, legal options or mental health counseling, support is available.
Through the Domestic Violence Program, CDHS partners with organizations across the state to provide free and confidential services, including:
- 24/7 crisis intervention
- Medical and legal accompaniment
- Safety planning and advocacy
- Professional counseling
Find support today at youhavetherightco.org/support-services/.
How to Support Someone Who Discloses Sexual Violence
Disclosing an experience of sexual violence takes a lot of courage, and your reaction to disclosure matters.
- Listen without judgment: Avoid shaming or asking why questions.
- Reassure them: Explicitly state that what happened is not their fault.
- Respect their autonomy: Ask how you can help, but don’t pressure them to make a report to law enforcement or take specific actions.
- Provide resources: Offer to help them find professional and advocate support.
- Don’t confront the offender: As hard as this could be, confronting the offender can escalate danger for both you and the survivor.
Reporting Options in Colorado After a Sexual Assault
After an assault, survivors in Colorado can receive a medical forensic exam. This includes both medical care and evidence collection, with or without reporting to police. Survivors who seek a forensic examination have three reporting options in Colorado:
- Law enforcement report: Law enforcement is contacted and an investigation begins.
- Medical reporting or non-investigative report: A medical forensic examination is completed and evidence may be tested at a crime lab to look for DNA matches. Survivors choosing this option do not have to open an investigation with law enforcement.
- Anonymous report: A medical forensic examination is completed but is not connected with the survivor’s name. The kit won’t be sent to a crime lab for testing, but will be stored at a law enforcement agency for a limited time. Survivors choosing this option will be given a case number and can later decide to contact law enforcement to start an investigation.
It’s important to know that survivors do not need to get a forensic medical exam to receive services from a community-based advocacy organization. Survivors can receive services from a community-based advocacy organization regardless of when they experienced sexual violence.
Help For People Concerned About Their Own Behavior
It is never too late to seek help. People who have engaged in harmful sexual violence or non-consensual behaviors or who are concerned they might cause harm can access specialized treatment and support. The Sex Offender Management Board provides information about approved treatment providers and pathways towards accountability and change.
More Posts
