​The term "sexual violence" is a non-legal, all-encompassing term that refers to crimes such as sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse. Please note that the legal definition of crimes varies from state to state. There are often other crimes and forms of violence that arise alongside crimes such as sexual assault.

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Sexual assault can happen between couples, in a family, between friends, or strangers. Like domestic violence, sexual assault manifests itself at all cultural and socio-economic levels regardless of gender, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, age, physical ability, level of education, etc.