​Rape and Sexual Assault

Rape is a crime of violence and domination in which one person forces, coerces or manipulates another person into sexual intercourse. Sexual Assault is a more general term including rape as well as other crimes such as incest, sexual harassment and other unwanted sexual contact.

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Facts about Rape/Sexual Assault
 

• College-age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

• Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault (90% are women and 10% are men).

• Rape is about power, control, domination and anger.

• Most rapes are planned in advance.

• 61% of all rapes are not reported to the police.

• The FBI estimates that false accusations account for only 2% of all reported sexual assaults. This is no higher than false reports for any other crime.

• The victim is never to blame!!

Someone who has been raped or sexually assaulted may experience disbelief, loss of control, anger, fear, depression, guilt, denial, mood swings, confusion and inability to concentrate, embarrassment, helplessness, difficulty with intimacy and relationships, and disturbances in eating and/or sleeping habits.

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What can you do if you have been sexually assaulted or raped?

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• Get help immediately. Phone the police, a friend and/or the YWCA’s 24-hour, 7-days-a-week Crisis Line at 770-427-3390.  If you aren't sure if what happened to you was rape, please call us to talk to an advocate who can help.

• Get to a safe place.

• If you think you were given a date rape drug, try not to urinate before providing any urine samples. If possible, collect any containers from which you drank.

• Do not shower, wash, douche or change your clothes. Valuable evidence could be destroyed.

• Get medical attention immediately.

• You may not remember the attack, but there still can be evidence of intercourse.

• ​Don’t isolate yourself. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed, and don’t try to ignore it. It is a crime that should be reported. Know that an action against the rapist can prevent others from becoming victims.

24-Hour Crisis Line

Advocates on the Crisis Line are available to talk about rape, sexual assault or other abuse issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Even if you have not talked with anyone about your assault or an assault on your child, or if years have passed since the assault, you can call the crisis line for assistance or information. An advocate is available 24/7 at 770.427.3390.
 

Counseling & Support Groups                             
The YWCA Sexual Assault Program offers free counseling to victims of rape, sexual assault and abuse and their families. Clients generally come in for weekly counseling sessions with a specially trained counselor.
Support groups for adult and teen victims of sexual assault and/or abuse and non-offending parents of children who have been raped or sexually abused are also offered. These groups meet weekly and are free of charge. 
For more information, please click here or contact the Counseling Supervisor for the YWCA, at 770.423.3595 or counseling@ywcanwga.com.

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Minimizing your risk for sexual assault

 

While you can never completely protect yourself from sexual assault, there are some things you can do to help reduce your risk of being assaulted in social situations.

 

• When you go to a party, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, check in with each other, and leave together.

• Practice safe drinking. Try not to leave any beverages unattended or accept drinks from someone you don’t know.

• Have a buddy system. Don’t be afraid to let a friend know if something is making you uncomfortable or if you are worried about you or your friend’s safety.

• If someone you don’t know or trust asks you to go somewhere alone, reply that you would rather stay with the group.

• Be aware of your surroundings.  Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you find a way out of a bad situation.

• If you don’t want to have sex, say NO like you mean it and fight off advances if you have to.

• If a person has had too much to drink or is on drugs, they cannot consent to sex and having sex with them is legally rape in the state of Georgia.

• The only person who can stop a rape is the rapist!

What are Date Rape Drugs?

Any sedating substance that can incapacitate a victim. They are colorless, odorless and tasteless. They may be added to a drink, even water, without the victim ever knowing.
 

• Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) - The most common form is a liquid.

• Rohypnol - A small white pill.

• Ketamine  - A clear or sometimes yellow liquid, usually in a small vial.

• Ecstasy - A small pill, varied in shape with an impression on it.

What are the effects of these drugs?

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• Loss of motor control

• Upper respiratory distress

• Loss of inhibition

• Intoxication

• Impaired judgment

• Dizziness/Confusion

• Sedation

• Blackouts

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Amnesia/memory loss

• Death, if combined with alcohol or other drugs

The #1 Date Rape Drug ….ALCOHOL