Sexual assault can have significant physical and psychological consequences for the victim.

Physical consequences can include: general bruising, injury, and/or damage to the body; sexually transmitted diseases or fear of; or pregnancy.

The psychological consequences of sexual violence can be considerable and impact very severely and long term on the victim’s sense of safety, self esteem, relationships, sexuality, parenting and physical and mental health.

Many victims of sexual assault feel confusion between anger at what has been done to them and a coexisting sense of somehow being partly responsible for what has happened to them, especially when they knew their attacker. Many believe that they are to blame, or that they could or should have done something to prevent it.

It is common for perpetrators and the legal defence in sexual assault matters to exploit and reinforce these feelings of self-blame, to ensure that their victims do not speak out or to undermine their credibility.

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