WHY IS CONSENT SO IMPORTANT and what are the facts?

 Sexual violence is a global crisis. Researchers have found that 1 in 6 children worldwide experience sexual abuse, and among adults, 1 in 2 rape survivors are assaulted more than once. 

These numbers reveal how widespread and relentless sexual violence is — not isolated incidents, but part of a much larger pattern affecting millions.

The trauma of rape and sexual assault leaves deep scars. Over a third of women who are raped (33%) contemplate suicide, and around 13% attempt it. 

Survivors often carry the weight of trauma for years, with their mental health, relationships, and sense of safety deeply affected.

Official statistics only scratch the surface. In 2022, the UK police recorded 67,169 rapes — yet just 1.9% of those cases led to charges within that year. Most survivors do not report at all: 5 in 6 women and 4 in 5 men choose not to go to the police, meaning what we know is only a fraction of the true scale.

The culture of abuse starts young. 9 in 10 girls and young women in schools say they experience sexist name-calling or the receipt of unwanted sexual images. 

This environment normalises harassment and teaches children that abuse is “expected,” fueling cycles of harm later in life..

Sexual violence is most often not about strangers. 6 in 7 rapes are committed by someone the survivor knows, and 1 in 2 by a partner or ex-partner. While anyone can be a perpetrator, the vast majority of offenders are men: 98% of adults prosecuted for sexual offences are male.

Technology has opened new doors for abuse. Globally, about 1 in 5 adults report experiencing image-based sexual abuse (IBSA), including revenge porn, threats, or deepfakes. In the UK, reports are rising sharply — with over 22,000 cases in 2024 alone. Survivors often don’t disclose: nearly one-third never tell anyone.

The harm caused by digital abuse mirrors physical assault. Over 51% of victims of revenge porn contemplate suicide, showing how devastating these violations can be. Shame, fear of exposure, and lack of justice leave many survivors isolated, suffering in silence.

Governments are only beginning to respond. In 2025, the UK expanded its revenge porn laws to criminalise sexually explicit deepfakes, and the U.S. passed the Take It Down Act, requiring platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery. But the law is still far behind the reality of abuse, and enforcement remains patchy.

Sexual violence — offline and online — is not rare, accidental, or private. It is widespread, systemic, and preventable. These facts aren’t just numbers: they represent people whose lives are disrupted or destroyed. Understanding the impact is the first step in breaking the silence, challenging harmful norms, and building a safer, more respectful world.

Silence allows abuse to continue. Whether it’s laughing off “jokes,” ignoring harmful behaviour, or dismissing survivors’ experiences, every moment of silence creates space for violence to grow. By speaking out, supporting survivors, and challenging harmful norms, we take away that silence and replace it with accountability.

Change is possible. Consent education in schools, stronger laws against image-based abuse, and community support for survivors are already making an impact. Every conversation, every challenge to harmful behaviour, and every piece of awareness raised helps create safer futures — where respect and consent are the norm, not the exception.

Sources

The information on this page is drawn from leading global studies and reports, including data from the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Women, UNODC, UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), and recent reports on image-based abuse from the UK Government and NGO research.