What is sexual assault?  Sometimes it is easy to simply discuss a topic such as this without first setting a definition of the term.  This can lead to misunderstanding because different people may have differing feelings at to what constitutes sexual assault.  Considering this blog focuses on sexual assault, particularly on cruise ships, it is important to set out a good definition.  But first, it should be noted that crimes committed by Americans aboard cruise ships often fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal Courts.  Just because a sexual assault occurs aboard a cruise ship does not make it any less reprehensible, or any less illegal.

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, sexual assault is defined as such:

Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person’s body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person’s consent. Some types of sexual acts which fall under the category of sexual assault include forced sexual intercourse (rape), sodomy (oral or anal sexual acts), child molestation, incest, fondling and attempted rape.

The overwhelming majority of reported sexual assault victims are female, representing about 92% of all cases.  Young women, between the ages of 16-19, represent the highest rate of victimization.  Not surprisingly, most reported sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows – approximately 73% of the time.  38% of the time the victim is a friend or acquaintance of the perpetrator, and 28% of the time they are intimate lovers.  Statistics for the United States reported for the year 2005 indicate that there were 191,670 reported cases of rape or sexual assault that year.

It is very important to report sexual assault to the authorities immediately.  It is well known among law enforcement officials that many of these crimes go unreported – leaving to the criminal to victimize again.  In fact, according to the authorities,  males report being sexually assault less than 10% of the time.  This underscores just how important it is to seek treatment immediately, and to notify the proper authorities.  Often times there are a sense of shame or embarrassment after one is assaulted sexually.  This is understandable and normal.  But this is not a reason to let the offender off the hook.    Many people who commit sexual assault on others will do so again and again until caught.  Being reported and apprehended may be the only way to stop them from victimizing again.

We cited a report yesterday that suggested that the rate of sexual assault on cruise ships is as much as 50% higher than that on land.  Don’t forget, just because you are on vacation does not mean you do not retain your rights and human dignity.  You have the right not to be touched or groped in a sexual way against your will.  Remember that your reporting of such criminal activity may be the only way to ensure that no one else, including you, is victimized by that person again.

Primary Sources: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32369#1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics