Melissa called our hotline on a Saturday morning after being assaulted by her partner the night before. They had been homeless for several months along with 2 children. Both she and her partner were active Meth addicts. Stability was not in the immediate future for this family. I picked her up from a friend’s apartment and he was waiting outside to keep her intimidated .... more...
It knows no limits | It is violence | It is not gender specific | It does not care about your age, ethnicity, yours social or economical status | It does not care about your religion | It can happen to anyone
Sexual contact with anyone who cannot or does not give informed willing consent, this includes unwanted fondling or touching.
Silence is not consent!
1 out of every 6 adult women, or about 230,000 adult women in Oregon has been the victim of forcible rape sometime in her lifetime.
*Rohypnol: is a sedative used in many countries as a presurgical anesthetic, causing drowsiness, dizziness, nausea loss of motor control & coordination, & confusion.
*GHB: is a central nervous system depressant that can cause unconsciousness, seizures, respiratory depression and coma
*These drugs are usually administered in liquids
Myth: “she wanted it” - Women ask to be raped by wearing “revealing” clothing, staying out late, going out alone, being drunk, etc.
Fact: Nobody asks to be sexually assaulted, the offender not the victim is responsible for the crime. People have the right to be free from sexual violence.
Myth: “It can’t happen to me!” - Sexual assault only happens to certain kinds of people.
Fact: Anyone can be sexually assaulted! It happens to people of all ages, races, sexual orientation, economical, social and religious background, and the disabled.
Myth: Most sexual assaults take place in isolated areas and are committed by strangers.
Fact: Over 60% of sexual assaults occur in the victims home and over 85% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known and trusted, like a spouse or partner, friend, neighbor, relative or co-worker.
A victim of sexual assault may experience some of these feelings and reactions:
To preserve the evidence try not to shower or change, launder or destroy the clothes you were wearing during the assault. Try to get to the hospital within 72 hours of the assault. In Yamhill County you may go to Willamette Valley Medical Center and Providence Newberg Hospital. You can call a crisis line to have a trained advocate with you at the hospital to help you understand the process and answer your questions.
Even if you do not report the assault to law enforcement you should still get a medical check up. Medical checkup does not obligate you to report to law enforcement.
What to do if your friend has been assaulted: