I have been lucky thus far in my life; I’ve never experienced any sexual violence. Yet. It could still happen sometime in the future. That might be a grim perspective, but it’s the reality for many women, children, and some men in Guyana and around the world. Rape, incest, and sexual assault are the most blatant violations. Harassment on the street and in the workplace, unwanted touching and attention – these are less invasive but extremely commonplace, affecting vast numbers of people. Sexual violence is an epidemic, both globally and locally. Statistics from the World Health Organization indicate that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. Other international studies reveal that approximately 20% of women and 5–10% of men reported being victims of sexual violence as children. However the real scale of the problem remains unknown since many victims do not report their experience.
Sexual violence seriously affects one’s physical and mental health. Infections and unwanted pregnancies can result,
