Sexual Assaults: Glossary

Sexual intercourse or putting a body part or an object into someone's genitals without their clear consent, using force, threats, or when the person cannot give consent (like when they are drunk or unconscious). Rape is a serious crime and can cause major physical and mental harm.

It happens when multiple people take part in the rape of one victim. This includes planning together, directly participating, or helping others in their actions. It's a very serious crime, marked by having several attackers and causing more harm to the victim.

A broad term that covers sexual assault, sexual harm, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. Sexual violence includes not just physical harm, but also emotional and psychological harm. It can happen to men, women, boys, or girls of any age.

Those who are 18 years old, which is the age when Israeli law considers them to have full legal capacity.

Intercourse means when a sexual organ enters someone's body. The law makes a difference between consensual intercourse and forced intercourse, or situations where someone cannot give consent, like with minors or when there is an abuse of power.

It refers to a situation where sexual intercourse happens with what seems like consent, but the law says that this consent is not valid because of age (under 16) or because of abuse of power, dependency, or mental condition.

A type of psychological abuse where the abuser tries to make the victim question their understanding of what happened during the sexual assault. This can involve comments like "It didn't happen," "You exaggerated," or "You wanted it." Sexual gaslighting damages the victim's self-esteem, increases confusion and guilt, and makes it harder to heal.

A sexual crime that happens between close family members, like a parent and child or siblings, is considered very serious under Israeli law. These crimes damage the trust that is essential in a family and can cause mental and emotional harm to the victim.

A process where an adult builds a relationship with a minor to take advantage of them for sexual purposes. This often involves gaining trust, giving gifts, or using emotional manipulation. Grooming can happen in person or online and is seen as a serious crime.

A social issue where the victim is held responsible for the harm instead of the attacker. Victim blaming can show up in questions or comments like "Why did you wear revealing clothes?" "Why didn't you fight back more?" "Why did you keep seeing him?" "How did you agree to meet him?" and others. This issue increases the victim's pain, adds feelings of guilt and shame, and makes it harder for them to seek help or report the incident.

Treating a person as a sexual object only, while ignoring their humanity and personality. Sexual objectification can occur in the media, advertising, social media, or in relationships. It creates an atmosphere that allows for harm and harassment, and reinforces distorted perceptions of interpersonal relationships and sexuality.

Unwanted behavior of a sexual nature that is done without consent. Harassment can be verbal, nonverbal, or physical, and include, for example, degrading comments, unwanted touching, distributing sexual content without permission (such as photos or videos), and even demanding sexual intercourse in exchange for favors. Israeli law defines sexual harassment as a criminal offense and a civil tort.

A clear, informed, and free expression of a desire to participate in sexual activity. True consent requires that all parties involved be in a state that allows for the expression of free will (without being under the influence of alcohol or drugs or under duress), that they are of an age that allows for legally valid consent, and that there is no abuse of power or authority. Consent must be given at every stage of sexual activity, and it can also be revoked at any time.

Consent, also called informed consent, is a legal term that means a person agrees to do something, as long as they are not forced, threatened, or taken advantage of. In sexual offense cases, not having free consent is essential for proving that a crime occurred.

A process where victims of sexual assault choose not to share their experiences or speak up because of social pressure, threats, intimidation, or cultural messages. This silencing can happen in families, workplaces, the legal system, or society in general, and it stops victims from getting help, support, and acknowledgment of the harm they have faced.

A dedicated unit in hospitals that is designed to treat victims of sexual assault, up to a week after the assault. The acute room provides immediate medical, psychological and legal treatment, including collecting evidence and maintaining the victim's privacy.

Revictimization occurs when a survivor of a sexual assault experiences further harm due to societal or systemic responses to their report. This can happen during police investigations, court testimony, or even medical treatment, when survivors must repeatedly recount the assault or encounter unsympathetic, skeptical, or blaming reactions. It’s important to note that the healthcare system now invests significant resources in training medical and healthcare professionals to provide trauma-informed care, aiming to minimize the experience of retraumatization during interactions with healthcare services.

This investigation is carried out by a social worker who is trained to gather stories from children up to 14 years old who have been sexually or physically harmed. The goal of the investigation is to protect the victims, gather information in a way that is suitable for their age, and make sure the process does not hurt them.

Focuses on providing care tailored to survivors of sexual trauma. This approach emphasizes understanding, empathy, and maintaining the patient’s sense of control and safety throughout the recovery process.

A mental and physical response that can happen after a sexual assault. Sexual trauma can impact many aspects of life and show up in various symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, avoiding social situations, trouble with relationships, difficulty sleeping, and more. Dealing with sexual trauma is a long process, and everyone heals at their own pace.

An act done to achieve sexual pleasure, satisfaction, or humiliation for the person doing it or someone else, without the victim's consent. This can include touching private parts, showing oneself indecently, or engaging in sexual behavior through force or exploitation.

Sodomy is defined by law as forcing a body part or an object into someone's anus or putting a genital organ in someone's mouth without their consent or through threats. It is a serious crime and is classified as a severe sexual assault.

A term for chemical substances given to victims without their knowledge with the intent to cause loss of control or consciousness. These substances are used to commit sexual offenses and are considered serious criminal acts.

A collection of medical and legal tools used to gather physical evidence after a sexual assault. It includes DNA samples, medical tests, and records of injuries and is part of the investigation process.

Any unwanted sexual act or behavior, typically committed by someone the victim knows and trusts over time. This often involves emotional manipulation to create dependence, keep the act hidden, and ensure secrecy.

A mental disorder that involves adults being sexually attracted to children who have not yet gone through puberty. It's important to note that the law does not use the term "pedophilia" but instead focuses on actions like sexually assaulting children, enticing minors, or sharing sexual content involving minors, all of which are serious crimes.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological response to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, and is characterized by three main types of symptoms:

• Intrusion (flashbacks, nightmares, overwhelming memories).
• Avoidance (avoiding people, places, or situations that remind one of the trauma).
• Hyperarousal (being on edge, difficulty sleeping, exaggerated reactions to stimuli).

PTSD can significantly impact daily functioning and may last for years without appropriate treatment.

A more severe form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that develops after prolonged or repeated exposure to traumatic events, especially those occurring in close relationships, such as incest or abuse within the family.

In addition to the typical PTSD symptoms, complex PTSD also includes:

• Difficulty regulating emotions.
• Changes in self-perception (shame, guilt, or feeling different).
• Challenges in interpersonal relationships.
• Alterations in belief systems and values.

This refers to the time period during which a criminal complaint or civil lawsuit can be filed for an offense. In sexual offenses in Israel, the statute of limitations changes based on the circumstances of the case and the victim's age. For instance, in cases involving minors, the statute of limitations starts when the victim turns 18. In very serious cases, like crimes against humanity or war crimes, there is no statute of limitations.

Any sexual act or behavior that happens under pressure and without the person's consent or free will. Sexual assault typically refers to one specific incident.