Sexual Abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually he or she doesn’t want to do.  It can also refer to behavior that impacts a person’s ability to control his or her sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including oral sex, rape, or restricting access to birth control and condoms.  Some examples of sexual assault and abuse are:

• Unwanted kissing or touching

• Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity

• Rape or attempted rape

• Refusing to use  condoms or restricting someone’s access to birth control

• Keeping someone from protecting himself or herself from sexually transmitted infections

• Sexual contact with someone who is very drunk, drugged, unconscious or otherwise unable to give a clear and informed yes or no

• Threatening or pressuring someone into unwanted sexual activity.