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Commentary: Sexual assaults leave a lifetime of consequences

Sexual assault is any kind of unwanted sexual activity, from touching to rape. Sexual assault can also be verbal, visual or non-contact. It is anything that forces a person to experience unwanted sexual activities or attention.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four U.S. women are victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner, with a negative impact such as injury, fear, concern for safety or needing services. According to a 2017 report, nearly 23 million U.S. women have been victims of rape or near rape in their lifetime.