What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence includes a wide variety of crimes and actions, that can be both physical and non-physical, that constitute unwanted or age-inappropriate sexual activity.

Sexual violence impacts people of any age or gender. Sexual violence includes such acts as rape, date rape or acquaintance rape, intimate partner sexual violence, alcohol or drug facilitated sexual assault, child sexual abuse, incest, female genital mutilation, prisoner rape, stalking, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual exploitation, systematic sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying, including using technology to harass or exploit. RAINN has detailed information on types of sexual violence: https://www.rainn.org/types-sexual-violence.

If you believe you have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence, please reach out to a service organization in your area. They provide a wide array of services such as counseling, access to medical care, and advocacy through the legal process should you choose to report.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault can take many different forms and be defined in different ways, but one thing remains the same: it’s never the victim’s fault.

Child Sexual Abuse

When a perpetrator intentionally harms a minor physically, psychologically, sexually, or by acts of neglect, the crime is known as child abuse.

Sexual Assault of Men and Boys

Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted or abused may also face some additional challenges because of social attitudes and stereotypes about men and masculinity.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

A perpetrator can have any relationship to a victim, and that includes the role of an intimate partner.

Incest

Regardless of how the law defines incest, unwanted sexual contact from a family member can have a lasting effect on the survivor.

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

You may have heard the term “date rape drugs” to refer to substances that can aid a perpetrator in committing drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Sexual Harassment

You should be able to feel comfortable in your place of work or learning. If you are being sexually harassed, you can report it to the authorities at your job, school, or local law enforcement.

Elder Abuse

As the number of older adults in America increases, it will become all the more important to be aware of the warning signs of elder abuse.

Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities

Consent is crucial when any person engages in sexual activity, but it plays an even bigger, and more complicated role when someone has a disability.

Prisoner Rape

If you’re an inmate, a former inmate, or know an inmate who survived sexual assault while in prison, there are resources available to you.

Military Sexual Trauma

Military Sexual Trauma, or MST, is the term used by the Department of Veteran Affairs to describe the effects of sexual violence experienced by a military Service member.

The following is a listing of Nevada and national websites, hotlines, & helplines. This list includes sexual assault resources for both teen and adult survivors, people who identify with the LGBTQIA community, the elderly, people of color, and people from Native communities. Each organization is listed in alphabetical order.

Nevada

Crisis Call Center
775.784.8090
toll-free 800.992.5757

Text support, text “answer” to 839863
For sexual assault support services: www.crisiscallcenter.org/sexualassault.html
Suicide Prevention Hotline 800.272.8255

Nevada Sexual Violence Prevention and Education
To search for a local crisis center in Nevada, visit http://centers.rainn.org. You can search by state and/or zip code. Volunteers and staff at these organizations are trained on issues surrounding sexual violence and can provide support and information about individual or group counseling, medical attention, reporting a crime to law enforcement as well as other services. Contact each organization to learn their full range of services offered.

Southern Nevada

Family and Child Treatment
702.258.5855
Family and Child Treatment of Southern Nevada (FACT) is a non-profit agency, dedicated to helping Nevadan’s heal from the traumas and cycle of abuse, neglect, violence, and addiction through education, prevention, and treatment services

Gender Justice Nevada-Queer Anti-Violence Project
The Queer Anti-Violence Project (QAVP) provides Southern Nevada with specific victim/survivor services and anti-violence services directly related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual persons (LGBTQIA).
24 Hour Hotline: 702.425.7287
Toll free: 888.425.7287
Office: 702.425.7288

The Rape Crisis Center of Southern Nevada
24 Hour Hotline: 702.366.1640
Office: 702.385.2153

University of Nevada Las Vegas-Jean Nidetch Women’s Center
24 Hour Hotline-Campus Advocacy Resource and Empowerment (CARE) Line: 702.895.0602

National Resources, Hotlines, and Helplines

1in6
This website has resources for surviving men of all ages, family & friends, professionals, and communities. It is called 1in6 because it is estimated that 1 in 6 men have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences before they even reach adulthood. Find resources, information, and hope.

Arte Sana
Arte Sana (art heals) is a national Latina-led nonprofit committed to ending sexual violence and other forms of gender-based aggressions and engage marginalized communities as agents of change.

Accessing Safety
212.334.1300
The Accessing Safety Initiative helps organizations and communities meet the needs of women with disabilities & Deaf women who are victims or survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, & stalking.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This webpage offers recent research and data sources on this topic along with a discussion of risk and protective factors, consequences of sexual violence, prevention strategies and additional resources.

GLBT National Help Center Chat Website
Chat function is found in the green area on the right-hand side of the screen.
Hotline for all ages: 1.888.843.4564
Youth-to-youth talkline: 1.800.246.PRIDE (7743)
All volunteers for the help center are either gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. As a non-emergency, www.glbtnearme.org is a website that has resources you can search by service category or by zip code.

Love is Respect ♥ org
A website that is aimed at young people who have entered the world of dating. Offers relationship definitions, plenty of quizzes (followed by information) about everything from being a respectful boyfriend/girlfriend to knowing how to help an abused friend.

Male Survivor
An organization devoted to providing support, resources, and information to male survivors of sexual victimization, as well as providers, parents, and others. Check out the tabs on the left hand side for more detailed information.

Men Can Stop Rape
Their mission is, “To mobilize men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men’s violence against women.” They strive to create role models, educate, provide training and technical assistance, and more. Please visit their website to find out how you can start a Strength Campaign. Visit their youth programs here, or their college campus programs here. They also have resources for male survivors here.

National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence educates the policy community about federal laws, legislation and appropriations impacting the fight to end sexual violence. Its team of experts and advocates, donating time away from their state and local groups, publish written analysis, track legislation, provide media interviews, and advise members of Congress and the executive branch.

National Center for Victims of Crime
Through collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, the National Center Advocates for Stronger Rights, Protections, and Services for Crime Victims ; Provides Education, Training, and Evaluation ; and Serves as a Trusted Source of Current Information on Victims’ Issues.

National Clearinghouse on Abuse Later in Life
608.255.0539
Programs development, policy and technical assistance and training that addresses the nexus between domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse/neglect. The vision of NCALL is to end abuse and neglect of older adults and people with disabilities by family members, caregivers, and others with ongoing relationships with victims. Recourse directory includes listing of elder shelters (by state) as well as support groups tailored to older women.

National Dating Abuse Helpline
Text “loveis” to 22522 or call 1.866.331.9474; TTY 866.331.8453
Offers one-on-one service from trained peer advocates who can offer support and connect the teen to resources. No names. No judging. Only help – anytime you need it. The advocates are available 24/7 to answer texts, phone calls and chats. The helpline also offers translation services.

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
Our mission: Dedicated to restoring safety to Native women by upholding the sovereignty of Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Violence
The National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) is an advocacy organization of Women of Color dedicated to working with our communities to create a just society in which all Women of Color are able to live healthy lives free of violence. Their purpose is to give voice and develop action strategies that incorporate and address the experiences and realities of Women of Color and Communities of Color.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Toll free: 877.739.3895
NSVRC serves as a central clearinghouse for the voluminous resources and research and provides a place to turn to for information, help and support.

Pandora’s Project
A website that supports survivors of rape and sexual abuse with resources, chat rooms (at Pandora’s Aquarium and a men-only chat room and male forum), message boards, and more.

Project Respect
A youth-driven program aimed at preventing sexualized violence amongst youth ages 14-19 years old for both young men and women. The “Learn” tab has an especially large abundance of information for teens.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

Speaking Out About Rape (SOAR)
SOAR offers national awareness, education and prevention programs to empower survivors of sexual violence and transform the public’s understanding and acceptance of rape victims.

Stop It Now!
This website that could help clarify child sexual abuse. It is important to understand that some teen relationship sexual abuse may fall under the category of child sexual abuse.
Assist service providers with any questions they may have.

Tribal Court Clearinghouse
Organization offers a listing of sexual assault resources for Native survivors.

United States Department of Justice

VAWnet
A project of The National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women Resource topics include intervention, prevention, perpetration, education & awareness, policy & systems advocacy, program development, and population-specific approaches.