Perpetration of sexual violence
Please remember that free, confidential and non-judgmental support is there 24/7 for anyone affected by sexual violence, including family and friends of victims and survivors, on the National Helpline at 1800 778888.
Relationship between victim & perpetrator
Female respondents who experienced adulthood sexual violence by relationship with perpetrator
(Source: CSO Sexual Violence Survey 2023 - Table 67, Table 10)
 | 70.02% of females who experienced sexual violence knew the perpetrator |
Perpetrator relationship to victim/survivor | Percentage |
|
Partner | 46% |
|
Family member/ relative | 2.24% |
|
Neighbour | 1.12% |
|
Friend/ acquaintance | 18.48% |
|
Person in authority | 3.36% |
|
Stranger | 19.04% |
|
Other | 5.04% |
|
Not stated | 5.6% |
|
Males who experienced adulthood sexual violence by nature of relationship with perpetrator
(Source: CSO Sexual Violence Survey 2023 - Table 67, Table 10)
 | 66.4% of males who experienced sexual violence knew the perpetrator |
Perpetrator relationship to victim/survivor | Percentage |
Partner | 40% |
Family member/ relative | 2.4% |
Neighbour | 1.2% |
Friend/ acquaintance | 20.4% |
Person in authority | 1.8% |
Stranger | 18% |
Other | 4.2% |
Not stated | 11.4% |
Females who experienced childhood sexual violence by relationship with perpetrator
Source: CSO SVS 2023
 | 66% of female respondents who experienced childhood sexual violence knew the perpetrator |
Perpetrator relationship to victim/survivor | Percentage |
| Boyfriend or girlfriend | 5 |
| Family member/ relative | 16 |
| Neighbour | 11 |
| Friend/ acquaintance | 17 |
| Person in authority | 3 |
| Stranger | 34 |
| Other | 2 |
Males who experienced childhood sexual violence by relationship with perpetrator
Source: CSO SVS 2023
 | 88% of male respondents who experienced childhood sexual violence knew the perpetrator |
Perpetrator relationship to victim/survivor | Percentage |
| Boyfriend or girlfriend | 5 |
| Family member/ relative | 13 |
| Neighbour | 10 |
| Friend/ acquaintance | 35 |
| Person in authority | 6 |
| Stranger | 12 |
| Other | 4 |
DRCC Data: Relationship between victim & perpetrator
DRCC data for new therapy clients in 2022
(Source: DRCC Annual Report 2022, p. 20)
 |  |
The majority of our 2022 intake of clients knew the person who had raped or assaulted them, accounting for over 95% of childhood abuse incidents and three-quarters (74.5%) of sexual violence incidents as adults. Figures for intimate partner abuse were higher among those subjected to sexual violence as adults (20%) as opposed to children (13.9%).
Relationship | Child Sexual Abuse | Adult Rape/Sexual Assault |
Parent | 6.48% | 0% |
Sibling | 7.41% | 0% |
Partner | 13.89% | 20% |
Other relative | 17.59% | 3.64% |
Other known person | 44.44% | 47.27% |
Person in authority | 5.56% | 3.64% |
Stranger | 4.63% | 25.45% |
