It’s easier to have an unconcerned and clout chasing opinion of a subject matter when it does not directly affect you. Sexual abuse is a subject matter that is sensitive to talk about, for both victims and victims family because more often than not because of the society we live in the victims gets blamed, that’s if they are even alive to tell their story.

With the rise of social media, it has gotten way easier to add your voice to a cause even though you don/t genuinely feel affected by the ideology behind it. Just last month, we all raised our voices and hands in celebration of International Women’s Day and chose to challenge vices that did not sit right with us, and as if the people that picked the theme for international women’s day knew, the following month which is this month turns out to be sexual assault awareness month; so the essence of this article is to choose to challenge sexual assault, and to do that let us start off by examining what sexual assault is.

Sexual assault is the act of intentionally touching someone sexually without their CONSENT  or coercing them to engage in sexual activities with you against their will. A keyword to note here is in this definition is consent, this means that when you grope someone or have sex with someone without their consent, is rape and sexual violence and it is a crime punishable by law. 

With sexual assaults, it takes many types including rape and attempted rape. As we gradually explore the subject of sexual assault, here’s all you need to know about it.

TYPES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

1. Child defilement
2. Rape

iii. Sexual harassment

Now that you’ve known the types of sexual assault, here’s how you can play your part to raise sexual assault awareness

1. Speak up, speak out 
2. Understand the importance of consent as well as enlighten people around you that anything less than a yes is a no. Educate people around you that is consent does not mean a nod or a look or a drunken yes. It is a yes given in a sober state devoid of coercion and influence, and anything less than that is a NO

Finally, 79% of sexual assault victims are women and 21% are men, on this note, I urge each one of you dear readers to add your voice genuinely to the fight against sexual assault. otherwise just like the german poem says, when they come for you, there would be no one left to speak for you.