Free from Harm
**Trigger Warning: The following pages may contain graphic images**
What is physical assault?
Physical assault is defined as an act of inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person. PAPRA supports a definition of assault that includes a threat or attempt to commit physical harm, even if the victim is not actually physically harmed.
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What is your definition of assault?
Do you believe that assault is just hitting or punching? What about slapping, pushing, shoving, tripping, throwing things at someone, or chasing after someone while threatening to hurt them? How would you feel if someone was threatening to harm you? You would probably feel scared, right?
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What does physical assault look like?
See the three victims below. All three have been victimized by physical assault. Just because you can’t see the physical bruises, cuts, or scars doesn’t mean that they aren’t victims of physical assault.
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“It’s been 3 years since I broke up with him, and I still jump every time I hear a loud noise.”
“I thought I would be over this by now. I still have bad dreams about how she treated me.”
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“I try not to disagree with my new roommate because my last roommate would scream and throw things at me any time we had an argument. It was scary.”
Don’t be fooled…Physical assault can cause long-term psychosocial damage to victims that can affect them for the rest of their lives!
Don’t be a victim, don’t be a perpetrator...Understand the true definition of physical assault and join the cause to end all forms of physical assault!