Sexual Violence Issues RAINN Is Addressing Right Now
New technologies. Persistent harm. Survivors still waiting for justice. Explore the issues RAINN is tackling right now.
Sexual violence is evolving—online, in institutions, and in our communities. RAINN is responding to today’s most urgent sexual violence issues, from AI-generated abuse to child protection and survivor justice.
Today’s Emerging & Expanding Sexual Violence Issues
Prevention programs and support services must evolve in response to new and increasing sexual violence. Two areas of urgent concern are:
• Tech-enabled sexual abuse (TESA), including AI-generated sexual images
• Child sexual abuse and online exploitation
Every person deserves safety. Every survivor deserves justice. And every perpetrator should be held accountable.
How RAINN Identifies Urgent Issues
To accomplish this, we analyze trends to identify new and expanding forms of abuse, gaps in protection, and patterns of harm across communities. We track:
• Federal and state sexual assault legislation.
• Shifts in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms.
• Criminal justice outcomes and prosecution data.
• Research from survivor advocates and public health experts.
• Media narratives that shape public understanding of sexual violence.
What You Need To Know
Children & Sexual Violence
Children are uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence, including grooming, exploitation, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). When children are harmed, the impact can shape their entire lives.
Many cases involve manipulation, secrecy, and abuse by someone the child knows.
Prevention starts with awareness—and accountability.
AI & Tech-Enabled Sexual Abuse
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms are being used to create, distribute, and weaponize intimate images and videos without consent.
Survivors are facing harm at a speed and scale we have never seen before.
Understanding how tech-enabled sexual abuse works is the first step to stopping it.
Get the Facts About Sexual Violence
Sexual Assault & Rape
Sexual assault is any sexual contact or behavior that happens without clear, voluntary, and informed consent. It can happen to anyone—and it often involves someone the victim knows.
Rape is a specific form of sexual assault involving non-consensual penetration.
Nothing you do ever makes you responsible for someone else’s decision to harm you.
Sexual Violence Against People with Disabilities
People with disabilities experience sexual violence at significantly higher rates than the general population. Barriers to reporting, communication challenges, and dependence on caregivers can increase vulnerability.
Addressing this issue means improving accessibility, strengthening legal protections, and ensuring survivor-centered support.
Sexual Violence Against Senior Adults 65+
Sexual violence against older adults includes unwanted sexual contact, coercion, and abuse by caregivers or people in positions of trust.
Age does not eliminate risk. Prevention and accountability remain critical at every stage of life.
Sexual Violence Against Men & Boys
Many men and boys grow up hearing that sexual violence “doesn’t happen to them.”
That myth keeps survivors silent.
It’s time to change that. Breaking stigma is part of prevention.
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Drug-facilitated sexual assault occurs when drugs or alcohol are used to impair someone’s ability to consent.
If someone appeared confused, unusually intoxicated, or unable to remember what happened, substances may have been involved.
Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
Intimate partner sexual violence refers to sexual acts committed without consent within a romantic or intimate relationship. Marriage, dating, or shared history does not equal consent.
Abuse within relationships is still abuse. Marriage or partnership never equals consent.
Sexual Abuse by a Medical Professional
Sexual abuse by a healthcare professional is a violation of trust, ethics, and the law.
Medical authority never overrides your right to consent and bodily autonomy.
Sexual Violence in Law Enforcement Custody
Sexual abuse in detention settings violates basic human rights and federal protections under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
Incarceration does not remove a person’s right to safety. Accountability must extend to every institution.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment includes unwanted verbal, physical, or digital sexual conduct that creates a hostile environment. It can happen at work, at school, or online.
Everyone deserves environments free from harassment and coercion.
Knowledge Drives Prevention. Action Drives Change.
Sexual violence is complex—but it is preventable. When communities understand emerging threats, demand accountability, and support survivors, change becomes possible.
Explore the issues. Share the facts. Support survivors.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Join Our Community
Support a future free from sexual violence.
Your contribution is critical to staff our hotline and support survivors.
