What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence can be:

  • An unwanted sexual act or an attempted and not wanted sexual act;

  • An unwelcome comment, contact or interaction of a sexual nature, or the attempt of such.

These acts are committed by one or more people against another person - the victim - against the victim's will.

 

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But when sexual acts are directed towards children or youngsters under 14 years old, it doesn't matter whether or not this person has shown willingness to engage sexually with someone - the Portuguese Law indicates that this is always a crime.

Why?

Because the Portuguese Law assumes that the practice of sexual acts by children under the age of 14 is always harmful to their development. .

Therefore, even if a child under the 14 years old has said that they want to have a certain contact of a sexual nature (even if they apparently do it out of own free will), the person with whom the child has such contact is committing a crime.

In some cases, sexual acts practiced against children or youngsters between the ages of 14 and 17, to which they may have agreed to, may also configure a crime.

This happens, for example, when they are carried out by someone who has some kind of authority over the child (the person who takes care of the victim or is responsible for them), or when someone older tries to take advantage of the child's lack of experience.

So, what acts are sexual violence?

  • Unwanted intimate touches (e.g. kissing, groping);

  • Sexual comments or jokes that cause the victim discomfort or fear ("slurs");

  • Unwanted touching on sexual organs;

  • Being forced to touch another person's sexual organs;

  • Being penetrated orally, vaginally or anally by penis, other body parts (e.g. fingers) or objects, or being forced to do this with another person;

  • Being forced to watch or participate in films, photographs or other pornographic performances (e.g. filming, sending nudes);

  • Forcing someone into prostitution;

  • Online grooming:

    • It is a process of manipulation where a person initiates a conversation with a non-sexual approach, apparently positive, with the child or young person;
    • The objective is to convince the child or young person to meet with that person so that they may consummate the sexual violence;
    • This person may also seek to encourage and/or force the victims to produce and send intimate photographs of themselves.

 

These situations can happen only once or several times.

Regardless, they are always violent situations for which you can ask for help.

Disclaimer

Some of the information on this website has been simplified so that it can be understood by everyone. This simplification does not, however, put in question the accuracy and correctness of the contents. The content of this website was created by APAV as part of the CARE plus project, funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The content reflects the point of view of APAV, which cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.