Medico-legal study of sexual assault at SML Constanta

Abstract

Sexual violence happens in every community and affects people of all genders and ages. Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact. This includes words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent. A person may use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual violence. The impact of sexual violence extends beyond the individual survivor and reaches all of society. Victims of sexual violence include people of all ages, races, genders, and religions — with and without disabilities. The World Health Organization estimates that around a third of women in the whole world are victims of acts of violence. In the European Union, in 2020, Eurostat recorded 788 cases of femicide, reported by 17 of the member states. This research paper will use medico-legal aspects of sexual assaults in order to draw a more complete picture of the data accumulated until now with regard to the risk factors. We analysed 379 records of sexual assaults, available at SML Constanta during January 2020 – March 2024. Victims of sexual assaults were more frequently young people, but also the great age. In the most of cases, the abuse was the private space of victims, predominantly in rural areas. (53.56%). Forensic investigation could bring indisputable evidence of signs of sexual intercourse, noting the recent rupture of the hymen in 8.17% of cases, the presence of sperm in 10.02% and lesions of anal mucosa 1.58%.