Forms of sexual abuse

Whenever the issue of sexual abuse comes up, many automatically believe that the discussion is about rape. But this is erroneous because there are various forms of sexual abuse and rape is just one of them.

Sexual abuse means any conduct which violates, humiliates or degrades the sexual integrity of a woman. And all forms of sexual abuse affect the victims in many ways; physically, emotionally and psychologically. This simply indicates that all forms of sexual abuse have terrible negative effects on victims of the act.

Rape, which is what most people know, is defined in Section 357 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol II, Laws of Oyo State 2000 as when any person has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act; and in the case of a married woman, by impersonating her husband.

Any person who commits the offence of rape is liable to imprisonment for life; any person who attempts to commit the offence of rape is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for 14 years and any person who unlawfully and indecently assaults a woman or girl is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to imprisonment for two years.

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Another form of abuse occurs  when any person who, with intent to marry or carnally know a female of any age or to cause her to be married or carnally known by another person, takes her away or detains her against her will. Such a person is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

There is also sexual assault which is intentional touching, striking or causing bodily harm to a woman in a sexual way without her consent while sexual exploitation is when a perpetrator, because of financial favour or other forms of reward, invites or induces the services of a victim or performs that for other persons.

Sexual harassment is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or conduct based on gender which is persistent, demeans or creates a hostile environment such as physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct.

Sexual intimidation is any action or circumstance which amounts to demand for sexual intercourse with a woman, demand for sexual intercourse, acts of deprivation, withholding or shortchanging of entitlements, under any guise or as a condition for passing examination, securing employment, business patronage or favour in any form. It also involves any form of disposition capable of coercing any woman to submit to sexual intercourse for the purpose of receiving reprieve as well as any action or inaction construed as sexual intimidation under any enactment in force in Nigeria.

Another form of sexual abuse is indecent exposure which is the intentional exposure of the genital organs or a substantial part of it with the intention of causing distress to the woman. So when next you want to send your nudes to that girl or coerce her for nudes, remember you are committing sexual abuse.

Another one is incest which simply means having sexual relations with a family member or close relatives, including children related by adoption.

There is a thin line in being friendly and sexual abuse, so people have to watch their actions.