Sexual abuse includes all acts of unwanted sexual attention and exploitation, including: inappropriate touching or molesting; exposing an unwilling partner to pornographic materials; sexual assault with an object; forced bondage; and rape. When these activities occur within families and intimate relationships they become part of family violence. By using sex to humiliate and inflict violence on victims, the abuser is able to exert power and control over them.

Abuse may start as emotional or verbal and gradually change to physical or sexual violence. Abuse also comes and goes in cycles: after incidents of abuse, your partner or ex-partner may be very sorry and loving for a short period of time and then will abuse you again. If you're involved with an abusive person, you may be feeling frightened, confused and alone.

The effects of family violence - shame, confusion, fear and anger - will not go away and silence only allows it to thrive. Being a victim of family violence in any form is not your fault , and you have the right to be safe.