Sexual abuse is the use of coercion, force, or unequal positions to make you engage in any form of unwanted sexual activity. Anyone in Luxembourg – women, men or children – can be a victim of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a form of sexual violence, which includes sexual assault, such as rape or unwanted touching, and sexual harassment, which is unwelcome, intimidating or offensive sexual behavior.

There are many people throughout the world who struggle to overcome the aftermath of sexual violence. If you are one of them, getting the right kind of help can make all the difference. In Luxembourg there are 7 hotlines you can contact for support with sexual abuse, assault or harassment. Reach out if you have experienced any of the following:

Examples of sexual violence:

Sexual photos or videos being posted online without your consent
An organ or an object being put into your vagina (rape), or anus or mouth (sodomy), without your consent
Being filmed or photographed nude or in a sexually explicit way without your permission
Rape by more than one person (gang rape) or rape by the same person over a period of time (serial rape)
Being kissed or touched without your consent or being made, by coercion or force, to touch or kiss someone
Being coerced, threatened or forced to perform any sort of sexual activity
Being exposed to a violent, hurtful sexual act without your permission
Being used sexually while you were very drunk, drugged, unconscious, or unable to say NO

Effects of sexual violence:

Feeling as if everyone could see what happened to you
Engaging in self-harm or self-mutilation
An urge to use alcohol, drugs, or gamble excessively
Feeling unsafe and scared that it would happen again
A decline in your physical and mental health
Not being able to fall or stay asleep
Feeling overwhelmed with a range of emotions, like anger, fear, numbness
Changes (either loss or increase) in your appetite

Everyone deals with sexual abuse, assault or harassment differently. You may find yourself trying to cope with it in a variety of ways. However, it is perfectly natural that it takes time to heal. It was a traumatic experience, and it might take a lot of support to recover.

When you’re on your path to surviving sexual violence and its aftermath, it helps to know that there are people who can relate. People in Luxembourg who went through similar experiences could make your recovery easier and quicker.

If you feel like you might need support with your experience of sexual violence, try reaching out to a hotline in Luxembourg. It's free and confidential.